Nov. 15 update: After community push back, Boulder Elks leadership announced that the pool will remain open during the winter. Elevation Athletics will work with the Elks to minimize costs for the season.
Boulder Elks Pool, an outdoor lap pool typically open year-round and heated to over 80 degrees in winter, will close for the winter this year. Swimmers can still book time until Oct. 30.
“Our boiler system was damaged over a year ago, and due to delays with our insurance company, we haven’t been able to secure the funds needed to replace it,” Jan Stull, Boulder Elks president, told Boulder Reporting Lab.
The pool has been renting boilers at a cost of $14,000 a month, but Stull said this practice is unsustainable and led to a $44,000 deficit last year. Pool leadership plans to spend the winter pressing the insurance company to finalize its claim so they can replace the boiler, Stull said.
North Boulder’s Elks Pool is the only outdoor lap pool in the city open during winter. It not only has a devoted community of recreational swimmers but also serves the Elevation Swim Team, a USA swim team for youth, collegiate and professional swimmers.
For those seeking alternatives this winter, Boulder’s rec centers in North, East and South Boulder offer indoor lap swimming.
Stull said she hopes to resolve the issue and reopen the pool by spring. Elks Pool will issue prorated refunds for all its lap swimming packages next month.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Sunset Pool in Longmont has a year-round heated outdoor lap pool. The pool is closed after Sept. 2.
