On Friday, hundreds of people attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new multimillion-dollar recreation center in Montrose.
The facility has an estimated price tag of $28 million.
"Tracking the whole history, it’s probably going on almost two decades of effort to bring a recreation center to Montrose," Ken Sherbenou, the executive director of the Montrose Recreation District, says.
Last year, city voters approved a sales tax increase to fund the project. The district also received a $500,000 grant from the Daniels Fund and a $1.9 million grant from the state to help cover construction costs.
Sherbenou says the rec. center will include a competition lap pool, gymnasium, climbing wall, racquetball courts and an indoor walking track.
"It’s going to offer something for every age and interest," he says. "It’s really going to make a great contribution to the quality of life in Montrose."
Cindy Alvarez says she excited to bring her kids to the center when it opens.
"There’s going to be a child care center," Alvarez says. "And so I’ll be able to swim [and] bring the kids so they can do their activities. We can all do it at the same time in the afternoon, after school or on the weekends."
Debra Lueck says the site will be a benefit to the community.
"Well for one thing, it’s a place for the kids," Lueck says. "There’s not a lot for them to do and so this is a good place for the kids to actually spend some time."
If construction stays on schedule, officials estimate the facility will open in the fall of next year.