March 7, 2007

With the snow continuing to fall for the umpteenth day, we all are weary of icy trails, cold days, and dark skies!   We are spoiled by previous years where our exercise has been in the lovely sunny winter weather that is usually the norm here in Colorado.   Inside the Golden Community Center, it is like Christmas every day!  Snow, outside, and surprises, inside, are a daily happening!  The construction is almost finished, and the new equipment in the workout room is arriving and being set up day after day!  I almost wish we had tied big red bows as each piece was relegated to its new home.  It has been a long time in coming, and many, perhaps, had lost hope for the project.  Already I have been noticing many new faces smiling in the mornings while trying out the new stuff! 

So, for a little history!  The Community Center, as we knew it, was built in 1994.  I still have my orange and aqua shirt.  In 2000, bonds were passed for increasing the recreation facilities, including the Splash and Fossil Trace Golf Course.  A lawsuit held up the use of the bonds designated for improvements of the Community Center until June of 2004.  (That is too long a story to tell in this space!)  2005-2006 were filled with Public meetings for input, planning and design, and finally construction.  The final construction should be done some time in March of 2007. 

So, what DID get done to improve our Golden Community Center?  Well, there were improvements to the pre-school facility, renovations to the locker rooms, especially to the family locker rooms, an addition to the building to house the new workout room and all of our new ‘toys’   (about 2 ½ times the size of the old space),  and the addition of 280k pieces of state of the art (aren’t you tired of that old buzz word, but what else can you say?)  cardio and weight machines.  We now have enough cardio stuff to get the heart rates up on at least 40 people at the same time!  The new climbing wall will be built also. 

Also,  the lower level entry way will be quite a surprise.  There will be handicap access!  There is a pre-school age play area…….one designed to stimulate creativity in your child’s play.  What I wouldn’t have given to have that part completed before all of our wonderful parks got buried in snow!!  There will be a climbing wall for tots, and a party room with pool access.   You can plan early for those toddler birthday parties that are coming up soon!   

The City of Golden has done this for YOU……the citizens!  I hope to see all of you in there real soon!  Then e-mail me your comments about your experiences!   

Karen Oxman       Golden City Councilor, District karenoxman@aol.com