Boulder parks board opposes proposed budget with recreation cuts

Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted 2-5 against recommending the department’s proposed 2027 operating budget and voted to send City Council a statement opposing it. The proposal would reduce some recreation services and staffing; the board’s role is advisory.

At the board’s Sept. 28 meeting, members said they learned about potential cuts late in the budget process and wanted earlier information to assess options and respond to residents’ concerns. Staff said that when questions arose at a June meeting, the cuts were still proposals and staff did not know which would advance. Staff apologized and said future budget materials could be clearer and available sooner.

The city manager’s proposed $552.6 million 2027 budget addresses a projected $6.3 million General Fund shortfall. It includes a proposed $42.1 million parks and recreation operating budget, up from $40.8 million in 2026, the city manager’s budget recommendation. The citywide proposal also adds funding for infrastructure, wildfire resilience and affordable housing.

Proposed parks and recreation service changes include ending child-watch at East Boulder Community Center, reducing some drop-in fitness classes, adjusting pool hours and cutting recreation-center front-desk staffing during slower periods. Staff estimate ending child-watch at East Boulder would save about $41,000; the service would remain at North Boulder Recreation Center. Selectively reducing drop-in classes across the department’s three recreation centers would save an estimated $12,000 annually, staff said.

At Scott Carpenter Pool, the proposal would shorten the operating season and reduce weekday leisure-pool hours during lower-use periods, typically between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Staff also proposed reducing indoor-pool hours during slower periods while maintaining core programming, swim lessons and peak hours. Final 2027 pool operations would be reviewed after the city assesses 2026 attendance and costs. At recreation centers, front-desk staffing would drop from three employees to two during slower periods, with other staff available to help. One-time funding would keep Spruce Pool open through 2027; staff said its longer-term future depends on finding ongoing resources.

City Council advanced the broader budget on first reading in a 7-1 vote Oct. 1, Boulder Reporting Lab reported. Final adoption was scheduled for Oct. 15, according to the Council agenda; the first-reading vote was not final adoption.