The City of Grand Junction is excited to invite the entire community to celebrate a major milestone in the community’s history: the opening of the new Community Recreation Center (CRC). A ribbon-cutting ceremony and two days of free community access will occur on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026. Membership sales will begin at the CRC front desk on Monday, August 17, and tours of the facility will begin on August 24.
The** ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, September 25,** at the Community Recreation Center located at 2836 Recreation Way. Community members are invited to attend the ceremony, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and be among the first to explore the new facility. Following the ceremony, the CRC will be open for free public use from 5 to 8 p.m. Free access will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. Due to anticipated attendance, access to the St. Mary’s Pools on Saturday, September 26, will be divided into three two-hour sessions:
9 to 11 a.m.
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
2 to 4 p.m.
Pool sessions will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. At the end of each session, all swimmers will be required to exit the pool area before the next session begins. This schedule will help provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors throughout the day.
Regular Community Recreation Center operations will begin Monday, September 28 at 5:30 a.m. Memberships are currently available for purchase, and information about membership options and pricing is available on the website. Soft opening events will commence in early September, and those who have purchased a membership will be invited to one of these events to help us prepare for normal operation beginning after the Grand Opening weekend.
Community members are invited to join a public tour beginning Monday, August 24. Tours will be offered Monday through Saturday and will happen all the way through Thursday, September 24. A schedule of all of the tour times can be found on the CRC website. Participants should meet at the main entrance of the CRC at the scheduled tour time. Registration in advance is not required.
The grand opening marks the completion of more than two years of construction following the project’s groundbreaking on June 1, 2024. The Community Recreation Center became possible after years of community planning and engagement before Grand Junction voters approved the project in 2023. Membership sales began June 8, 2026, as the City prepared to welcome the community into the new facility and will continue during CRC tours beginning August 24.
The CRC includes five pools with two water slides, a pool climbing wall, jumping platforms, a diving board, a lazy river, and more. Beyond the aquatics area, the facility also includes an indoor climbing wall, a gymnasium, fitness and group exercise spaces, an outdoor fitness area, a synthetic turf field, a game area, Kids Club, and community rooms.
Additional information about the Community Recreation Center, including amenities, memberships, and grand opening activities, is available at www.gjcity.org/crc.