Concerns about the future of Cortez’s outdoor swimming pool prompted comments from four people at Tuesday’s meeting of the city council.
City staff announced earlier in October that the pool would be closed next summer because of budget constraints. After pushback, they said it will be open in 2027 but it still faces an uncertain future.
On Tuesday, Emily Pearson and Kyle Archibeque spoke about the importance of the pool to the youth swim club Cortez Water Dragons.
Pearson, who is board president for the club, said this year it had 91 swimmers from five to 18 years old participating, and 52 of them qualified for the seasonal state swim meet.
“We had the most swimmers of any team there and we took second overall and we won the 2026 Spirit Awards,” she said.
Archibeque said the Water Dragons typically use the outdoor pool four days a week during summer.
In May, the Water Dragons had a three-day home meet that featured eight teams and 179 swimmers from around the state.
“Those numbers are incredibly to be proud of,” he said.
At the meet, there is a short-course event on Friday and long-course events on Saturday and Sunday, Archibeque said.
“The long-course option draws many swimmers from around the area,” he said, adding that it’s an event that is not possible to have at the Cortez Rec Center’s pool.
The Water Dragons have also hosted the seasonal state meet, which brings in anywhere from 13 to 15 teams, twice in the last five years, he said. “We hope to host it again in the future.”
Archibeque added, “Everyone loves coming to our outdoor pool because of the deck space, the large trees, the shade outside at the pool, and the warm-up lanes on the side of the pool that isn’t being used.”
He said the Water Dragons want to “work alongside city staff, Parks and Rec, council, families, and community members to explore realistic solutions to help shape a long-term future for aquatics in Cortez.”
Morgan Head, who said she is a volunteer board member for local baseball and softball programs and a volunteer with the Cortez youth football program, urged the city to reconsider cuts that might affect youth sports.
“I recognize that the city faces difficult financial decisions and that maintaining recreational facilities comes at a cost,” she said. “However, I strongly urge city leadership to reconsider budget cuts that would limit access to these facilities and jeopardize youth sports in our community.”
In small rural communities, she said, sports give children a place where they belong and can build friendships. Sports help them learn teamwork, discipline, accountability, and leadership, she said.
“Youth sports are not a luxury,” Head said. “They are an investment in our children and our community’s future.”
Monique Knaggs suggested ideas for bringing in more fees at the pool, such as allowing more time for lap swims for adults and charging out-of-county guests a higher fee. She also said the pool is kept overly warm and dropping the temperature would save money.
The remarks came during the public-comment period, and council members did not reply.
The city is currently working on a Parks and Recreation Master Plan and its 2027 budget. Like many local governments, it faces a budget crunch.
In a recent press release, city officials said the pool costs about $391,000 more to operate than it brings in every year, and it needs major repairs. However, the city is facing an estimated shortfall of about $540,000 next year.
“. . . without significant renovations, which the City cannot currently fund, the pool is nearing the end of its useful life,” the release says.
The outdoor pool was built in the 1950s, leaks thousands of gallons of water a day, and needs ongoing short-term repairs, according to the city. A long-term fix would cost about $1.5 million, officials say.
The second reading and public hearing for the 2027 city budget will take place Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.
