Spruce Pool, the public swimming pool on 21st and Spruce streets, will shut down a few weeks early this year, on Aug. 17, as the City of Boulder looks for ways to cut costs.
“Given the city’s current financial position and a hiring freeze that has been implemented citywide, all city departments have been asked to reduce service levels,” city spokesperson Kate Hernandez told Boulder Reporting Lab.
Typically, the pool closes on Labor Day, but Boulder Parks and Recreation moved that date up this year in order to protect other services that aren’t as easily replicated, according to Hernandez. The city is encouraging residents to go to other pools, like Scott Carpenter, which staff expect will be less crowded due to a reduction in swim team usage. The department cited other public agencies that close their small community pools when the school year begins – in this case, the week of Aug. 11.
Some pool users have pushed back, saying many visitors are either older Boulder residents who rely on the slower-paced lap lanes or families with young children who are not affected by school schedules. Some have questioned whether alternatives were considered, like reducing hours or reallocating staff from the South Boulder Recreation Center while it’s closed for repairs, were considered. They also claimed Parks and Rec Board surveys about city priorities were not posted at Spruce Pool.
Hernandez said the closure isn’t necessarily a long-term change and will be reevaluated next year.
Boulders budget has increased 50 percent since covid. What are we spending on that we can’t keep the pool open?