Pueblo and Southern Colorado (Fort Collins, Boulder: houses, employment, YMCA)

[darjoh]

I have always had an interest in Pueblo. I have had a hard time convincing my wife to check it out, but she has a valid point. No Recreation Center(s).
In comparison to what I mean,
Golden: City of Golden Colorado - Where the West Lives! - Community Center
Longmont: Facility Hours, Longmont Recreation Center, General Information, Recreation Services, City of Longmont, CO
Boulder: City of Boulder, Colorado -- Official Web Site - Parks & Recreation - South Boulder Recreation Center
Loveland: Chilson Recreation Center-Loveland Parks & Rec
Fort Collins: Recreation: City of Fort Collins

Just to show a few I am familiar with.

Recent posts on craigslist Pueblo about the non-existent recreation center(s) of Pueblo:
Rec Centers

Re: Rec centers

Disappointed In Pueblo

Disappointed in Pueblo

I have searched the web on City of Pueblo, Colorado - Parks & Recreation

and really have not seen anything remotely close to the city provided recreation centers established in Colorado cities in the north end of the state. After seeing the posts on craigslist pueblo about the need for recreation centers in Pueblo, it re-confirmed my suspicions. I always thought I was searching wrong. McGowdog had answered a post I made about this topic, and he had mentioned the YMCA, and other private "gyms". But from the links above, this is what we are looking for us and the kids.

If someone knows otherwise, please inform me.

[McGowdog]

There ya go, Josse. It's all you!

Originally Posted by Josseppie

As far as Patties, that has a interesting history let me just say that I have heard she has no problem if the developers of the Grand Gardens want to buy the property for a nice profit.

The "she" you refer to is not "Patti" for those not in the know, but Judy. Sure they could buy her out, but it's a private entity and they do not have the authority to do this without a vote. And we the People of Pueblo say BUILD AROUND IT YOU FOOLS!!!!!!! She deserves RiverFront property on that there riverwalk. If she doesn't remain, I'm gonna turn that riverwalk into the Little Yellow River Band.

[Josseppie]

What about the new Pueblo YMCA Campus? I am told it is the only one like it in the county. They are building it now by highway 50 and Pueblo BLVD. Here is a link to their site and has a picture of the new building.

http://www.puebloymca.org/

Just more information Pueblo joined with the YMCA to build the place and they used tax dollars thus it is open to the community, you have to pay something but it is not much and I don't think any rec center is totally free.

Pueblo did this to be able to have a larger rec center that either one could of done on their own.

As far as Fort Carson, it sounds like they will get their limited expansion they want and I have not heard anything about them not expanding like they are planning on, it should be doubled by 2011.

As far as the new companies coming here, that is the wild card that we can only guess at. Do the developers have connections from California since they are based in Las Vegas? I tend to say yes because why would they spend the millions of dollars it will take without a return on investment, they don't care about Pueblo they just want to make money. That being said we will not know till the annexation goes through and the development starts. It could be a boom area or a slow to take off like Pueblo West was.

[darjoh]

Its been a year since this article, what has been the outcome?
DEPARTMENT NEWS - YMCA of Pueblo to Operate City Pools Beginning Jan 1 2008

From the reading, it doesn't sound good.

Quoted from above linked article:

"I made no bones about it. I think it's a bad deal, it's a bad investment,"

"Well, at least I tried. It's the people who are going to suffer,"

"We don't have the money to fund our departments so why should we be giving money to a group that has absolutely no function in the city government"


No one said a rec center is free, but if a town like Ft. Collins with a population of 100,000 has about 5+ centers, how does Pueblo have ONE, and not owned by the city?

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by darjoh

Its been a year since this article, what has been the outcome?
DEPARTMENT NEWS - YMCA of Pueblo to Operate City Pools Beginning Jan 1 2008

From the reading, it doesn't sound good.

Quoted from above linked article:

"I made no bones about it. I think it's a bad deal, it's a bad investment,"

"Well, at least I tried. It's the people who are going to suffer,"

"We don't have the money to fund our departments so why should we be giving money to a group that has absolutely no function in the city government"


No one said a rec center is free, but if a town like Ft. Collins with a population of 100,000 has about 5+ centers, how does Pueblo have ONE, and not owned by the city?

I am not sure what you mean? Those quotes are all from people against the project, with anything big like that you will get people against it. Part of life.

That being said it is being built now as we speak, I have not taken a picture of it but I can and will tomorrow and post it on here so you, and everyone, can see the progress of the YMCA campus. It should be a nice addition when it is done, this spring I think.

How is not owned by the city:

It is a joint venture with the YMCA.

[Josseppie]

Here is a article in the Pueblo Chieftain about the YMCA campus.

The title: YMCA Community Campus to open in spring

The link:

The Pueblo Chieftain Online :: YMCA Community Campus to open in spring

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

There ya go, Josse. It's all you!



The "she" you refer to is not "Patti" for those not in the know, but Judy. Sure they could buy her out, but it's a private entity and they do not have the authority to do this without a vote. And we the People of Pueblo say BUILD AROUND IT YOU FOOLS!!!!!!! She deserves RiverFront property on that there riverwalk. If she doesn't remain, I'm gonna turn that riverwalk into the Little Yellow River Band.

I do not want to go into the story here in Public but what I meant was she would sale it in a heartbeat and take the money and run. Its more her customers who want to keep the restaurant open not her, and you can see that from her interview she said as much lol.

BTW I hoped I answered all his questions about the YMCA, I will post a pic tomorrow afternoon.

[darjoh]

Isn't city government function to provide for the community? But giving tax dollars to a private entity to provide a community service is suspicious to me. Like the YMCA mission statement on the bottom of every page from the link you posted,
"To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build
healthy spirit, mind and body for all."
The primary word there is "Christian". I don't appreciate a religious value being imposed onto me or my kids. I have nothing against religion, as I won't go any further with it than that, but everything has it's place.
Besides that, As for the quotes from the article link I posted, there were NO positive quotes to post.

I have been to YMCA's in other cities, in the past. In my own opinion, they are poorly kept clean, and become quickly outdated. The link you posted mentioned numerous times about "donations". and a not-for-profit entity.
The point is, for an established city like Pueblo, why hasn't it had established recreation centers before this YMCA hype? You can find a YMCA, or YWCA just about anywhere, but they never compare to city run centers. 100,000 people in Pueblo, and it will have 1 recreation/community center? Then 3 outdoor pools, run by the same "not-for-profit" entity? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[Josseppie]

I guess I did not answer his questions lol

If you don't like it then that's ok, but you question was does Pueblo have a community rec center and the answer is yes.

[darjoh]

It doesn't if its not built yet, and that is only "Phase I" of III. How long before the other 2?