Longmont’s former YMCA purchase advances toward a second rec center

Longmont’s former YMCA is one step closer to becoming a second city recreation center, but residents are still years away from a possible reopening.

On July 14, 2026, the Longmont City Council directed staff to move forward with purchasing the former YMCA property at 950 Lashley Street. The action advances the deal, but the transaction has not formally closed.

What Longmont is proposing to buy

The proposed purchase price is $4.5 million. That would cover the land, an approximately 60,000-square-foot building, building systems and equipment, according to the City of Longmont’s Future Recreation Center information.

The city hopes to finalize the purchase in August or September 2026. Planning, facility evaluation and development work would continue after that. The city currently identifies early 2028 as the target for reopening, but that remains a goal rather than a guaranteed opening date.

Repair costs would extend beyond the purchase

Longmont estimates that renovations would cost about $8 million over 10 years. Roughly $4 million of that work is expected before the building could reopen.

The repair list includes heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work; electrical and mechanical upgrades; pool-area improvements, including structural roof repairs; Americans with Disabilities Act corrections; interior improvements; exterior signage; drainage; and parking-lot work.

The city says the purchase and renovations would be primarily funded through the Recreation Impact Fee Fund, which is financed by fees charged to residential developers. The $8 million figure is an estimate projected over 10 years, not a final adopted construction budget. Final operating, maintenance and project details remain part of the planning process.

What residents could eventually gain

If the project moves ahead as currently described, the former YMCA could add an eight-lane indoor lap pool, a two-court gymnasium, fitness and weight-training areas, group fitness studios, an indoor walking and running track, childcare space, an outdoor synthetic turf field, a covered pavilion and areas for camps, leagues, private parties and community programs.

The city says a second full-service recreation center would nearly double Longmont’s full-service recreation capacity. The proposed amenities are not yet a final operating schedule, fee structure or guaranteed program lineup.

For now, the Longmont Recreation Center remains the city’s current full-service facility, with pools, fitness programs, gym space and childcare services. The Lashley Street project would add capacity rather than immediately replace the existing center.

Childcare and long-term costs remain unresolved

Childcare is one of the issues still under discussion. The city says it will explore options to continue childcare services during and after the transition and wants to minimize disruption to families. It has not confirmed that services will continue without interruption.

The proposal also raises questions about the cost of maintaining two aging recreation facilities. CBS Colorado reported that council discussion included concerns about the condition of the buildings and the long-term expense of operating both sites.

As dated background, KUNC reported in February that the YMCA’s fitness operations were ending and that adult aquatics and other recreation services were being discontinued, while childcare programs were continuing. That coverage explains why the property’s future matters to former users, but it does not establish a current operating schedule or guarantee that former YMCA programs will return.

The next major milestone is the proposed purchase closing in August or September. Residents should then watch for updates on building assessments, construction planning, childcare arrangements, operating costs and whether the early-2028 reopening target changes.

Sources

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