2026 Boulder Budget - Costly Projects

2026 Boulder Budget – Costly Projects

October 19th, 2025

Several projects in the works deserve a closer look.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Boulder’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) oversees a broad range of improvements in Boulder from streets and utilities to city owned buildings. For buildings, the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) [1] guides decisions on whether to perform deep retrofits or demolish and build new, but it overlooks a third, more sustainable option: ongoing maintenance.

South Boulder Recreation Center

The South Boulder Recreation Center, built in 1972, has served for more than five decades and received limited maintenance. Years of neglect have led to several system failures, including the boiler that heats the pool, as well as general wear and tear typical of an institutional building. A third-party condition report [2] from 2025 found some minor structural issues but noted that the facility remains in relatively good shape. Despite its better energy efficiency and generally sound condition, the South Boulder Recreation Center is currently slated for replacement. However, the city has not yet determined what the new facility will include or how much it will cost.

South Boulder Recreation Center

East Boulder Recreation Center

The East Boulder Recreation Center, built in 1992, has been identified as deficient in both function and energy efficiency [1]. To address these shortcomings, the city is proposing a deep energy retrofit that would “place the facility on a path toward environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and financial stewardship”. The total cost of this retrofit is estimated at $53 million [3].

In the 2026 budget, the city plans to raise daily recreation center rates by 25% in 2026 [4].

East Boulder Recreation Center

West Campus

The new West Campus will be located on the former site of Boulder Community Hospital, a property the city purchased in 2015 for $40 million [5]. Demolition of the hospital was completed in 2023 at an estimated cost of $16 million [6]. The Pavilion medical office building on the site, originally 62,500 square feet, was initially intended to serve as new office space for up to 250 city staff members. The rest of the property is slated for housing and mixed-use development. In 2020, the cost to convert the Pavilion into city offices was estimated between $49 million and $58 million [6].

With recent increases in staff, plans for the site have since expanded. The Pavilion will now include an additional 55,100 square feet, including a new fourth floor [7]. With these changes, the estimated cost of converting the Pavilion into city offices has risen dramatically to $140 million [8]. Much of the funding for this project is already in place after a $100 million bond sale in 2025. [8][9]

Alpine-Balsam West Campus