Grand Junction just dropped a fresh update on the massive new Community Recreation Center, and the momentum is real. Crews worked straight through the holidays, pushing hard on equipment installs and major build-out phases. The city’s biggest recreation project ever is now clearly taking shape, with an opening targeted for late 2026.
Crews refused to slow down even during Christmas and New Year’s. Workers installed gym equipment, cabinetry throughout the building, and kicked off major work on the western wing. Steel erection is nearly complete, roofing is going up fast, and interior finishes are moving at full speed. City officials say the project stayed on schedule despite winter weather challenges.
The new two-story, 115,000-square-foot facility at Matchett Park will completely change how residents play, exercise, and gather.
Here’s what’s coming:
- Five indoor pools: leisure pool with slides, zero-depth entry, therapy/wellness pool, eight-lane competition lap pool, and cold-plunge pool
- Full gymnasium with three basketball courts convertible to six pickleball courts
- 30-foot climbing and bouldering wall
- Elevated indoor walking/jogging track
- Large cardio and weight rooms with dedicated group fitness studios
- Outdoor synthetic turf field lined for soccer and lacrosse
- Child watch area, multipurpose rooms, and event spaces
This isn’t just another gym. It’s built to serve every age group from toddlers to seniors in one place for the first time in Grand Junction history.
City leaders still stick to the late-2026 opening timeline. Substantial completion is expected by mid-2026, followed by several months of testing, staffing, and final touches. The exact grand opening date will be announced once interior work hits key milestones in the coming months.
The big question hanging over the project remains the future of Orchard Mesa Pool. City Council members have openly discussed closing the aging outdoor pool once the new center opens. The move would save roughly $300,000 to $400,000 per year in operating costs. Many residents on the Orchard Mesa side worry they’ll lose their neighborhood pool and face longer drives across town. Council has promised more public input sessions before any final vote.
The entire project runs about $89 million, paid for by the voter-approved 2019 parks improvement sales tax. No general fund money is being used. City officials stress every penny comes from the dedicated tax residents agreed to pay for exactly these kinds of upgrades.
Local reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Families packed city council meetings in 2019 to demand better recreation options. Residents repeatedly said the current facilities, some built in the 1970s, simply can’t keep up with Grand Junction’s growth.
“This is the facility our community has wanted for 20 years,” one longtime resident told council members during the vote. Parents point out their kids currently drive to Fruita or Clifton for club sports and swim lessons because Grand Junction options are limited or outdated.
When doors finally open in late 2026, the center will become the Western Slope’s largest indoor recreation complex. It will serve not just Grand Junction’s 65,000 residents but families from Palisade, Fruita, Loma, and Clifton who already travel here for youth sports and activities.
The new recreation center represents more than concrete and steel. It’s the city finally delivering on years of promises to give families modern, safe, year-round places to stay active together. After decades of waiting, Grand Junction kids will soon have a facility they can truly call their own.
What do you think about the progress? Are you excited for the new center? Will you miss Orchard Mesa Pool if it closes? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let your neighbors know how you feel.
