Health and Recreation Materials 11.17.20
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
TO: Health and Recreation Committee
FROM: John Curutchet, Recreation Director
RE: Targeted Objectives and Work Update
DATE: November 12, 2020
SUMMARY: This report provides an update on discussions from the Health and Recreation Committee
Meeting, September 2020. The report also provides background on past proposals, concepts and
presentations to Avon Town Council. The September meeting also included a staff presentation on
“Targeted Objectives” to promote a group discussion around identifying priorities as short, medium, and
long-term projects and initiatives.
Primary outcomes from the September meeting included prioritizing objectives for the following recreation
initiatives:
• Recreation Center expansion
• Community survey development and needs assessment work
The committee agreed that prioritized Healthy Community efforts should include:
• Forging partnerships and or collaborating with other entities pursuing Healthy Community initiatives
• Leveraging resources to engage behavioral health challenges
• Community survey development and needs assessment efforts towards Healthy Community issues
STAFF UPDATE: The expansion of the Avon Recreation Center, identified in many Town documents as
“Phase Two” of the Recreation Center has been documented for the last 25 years. Several iterations of
expansion concepts have emerged over the years as trends in the industry and needs from the community
evolve. Also, capital improvement and upgrade projects in the last three years have satisfied many of the
expansion needs. Most current expansion proposal includes a full size, multi-purpose activity space, (gym),
with walking/running track encircling, multi-purpose group fitness and training studio and a 25 meter, six or
eight lane competition lap pool with retractable roof, and a seasonal splash park and outdoor winter ice
sheet. Amenities presented as options, A, B and C shown below.
I believe the expansion to the Recreation Center is pivotal towards finishing the “Campus of Recreation and
Cultural Opportunties”, and will propell Avon to be first choice as a family vacation destination in Eagle
County.
In 2014, the recreation center expansion, (Phase Two) went to the November ballot. There was little effort
towards a campaign and zero matching funds raised. Consequently, the initiative lost by 34 votes. Energy
and effort from the Health and Recreation Committee towards a formal community survey and proper public
process along with securing outside funding may be best course of action to bring a successful future ballot
measure with community support for the initiative.
An informal recreation services survey was conducted in 2016. That survey was out prior to the latest
upgrades and expansion of fitness areas. The survey was not distributed to the community, rather was
optional to those visitng the rec center.
An example of that survey is included in this report as Attachment A.
Results from the survey effort and data collection is shown in this report as Attachment B.
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Option A, full size multi-purpose gym,(in yellow), with track and a six lane competition pool,(in blue)
Option B, full size multi-purpose gym with track and an eight-lane competition pool
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Option C, full size multi-purpose gym with track, eight lane pool and splash pad/seasonal ice sheet
Illustration, eight lane pool with roof retracted
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Attachment A. 2016 Recreation Facility Survey
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Attachment B, results from recreation center informal survey
Figure 1. Figure one shows how many people support indoor sport courts and a multi -use gymnasium,
which will include space for activities such as basketball, pickleball, fitness and wellness classes in addition
to special events.
Figure 2. Figure two shows how many people support Multipurpose rooms to host fitness and wellness
classes, cooking classes, art classes and other community sponsored events.
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Yes No No Response
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Multi-use Gymnasium
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Yes No No Response
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Multipurpose rooms
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Figure 3. Figure three shows support of a programmable walking/running track that can host a variety of
programs included, but not limited to archery, interval training, obstacle course style fitness and physical
therapy.
Figure 4. Figure four shows support for an expanded free weight room and increased weight equipment
and expanded cardio conditioning space.
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Yes No No Response
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Walking/Running Track
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Yes No No Response
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Expanded Weight Room Facilities
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Figure 5. Figure five shows support for an indoor trampoline space.
Figure 6. Figure six shows support for a chilled ice sheet for general skating, lessons and small game
play through the rec center. In the summer, it would be used for yoga, pickleball, and other special events.
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Covered Ice Sheet
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Indoor Trampoline Space
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Figure 7. Figure seven shows support of an open-air splash pad.
Figure 9. Figure nine shows support of an indoor playground and or a programable teen space.
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Open Air Splash Pad
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Yes No No Response
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Indoor Playground/ Teen Space
970.748.4059 jcurutchet@avon.org
Targeted priorities for healthy community issues and initiatives landed mostly with the committee conf irming
that collaborating or forging partnerships with other agencies that deal directly with healthy community
issues would best practice to begin. September meeting produced the following agencies as potential
partners:
• Speak Up, Reach Out
• Eagle Valley Behavioral Health
• Eagle County Public Health
I am setting up meetings to speak with representatives of each entity to discuss their specific scope and to
determine if there are opportunities for the Health and Recreation Committee to become in volved with any
initiatives or fill any deficiencies with resources available to the Town.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: I recommend the Health and Recreation Committee proceed with identifying
current recreation center expansion needs and begin to develop a full scope community survey and public
process to determine future expansion of the Avon Recreation Center.
I also recommend based on feedback received from existing Healthy Community agencies that the Health
and Recreation Committee determine best practice for the committee to become involved, or not, with
Healthy Community Initiatives.
Thank you,
John