A groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for a new community recreation center in Grand Junction.

The City of Grand Junction has scheduled the event for 10 a.m. June 1 at Matchett Park with additional activities planned at the park that day.

“The groundbreaking is the exciting first step in the construction of the new Grand Junction Community Recreation Center,” said Mayor Abe Herman. “This new facility was made possible due to the hard work and dedication of city staff, city council and, most importantly, our community members.”

“Thanks to our successful partnership with Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital and grants like those from the Department of Local Affairs, the city has been able to overdeliver on the community recreation center, far beyond what was promised to the voters who passed the ballot initiative in 2023. The new recreation center will offer something for everyone at every age in our community to enjoy,” Herman said.

In addition to the groundbreaking ceremony, activities will include:

A 5-kilometer fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. sponsored by the Grand Junction Sports Commission. Proceeds from registration will go to the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation youth program scholarship fund.

A disc golf Tournament starting at 8:30 a.m. sponsored by Grand Valley Disc Golf Club.

A virtual tour of the community center using QR codes.

Bump-n-jumps sponsored by Grand Valley Power and youth activities and games provided by St. Mary’s Regional Hospital.

Music by Ryan Gris.

A barbecue lunch from Colorado Q for the first 450 people will be provided in the space of the future community rooms courtesy of FCI Constructors.

The Grand Junction City Council adopted the final plans for the Grand Junction Community Recreation Center in November 2022. That became the basis for an April 2023 ballot initiative approved by voters that included a 0.14 percent sales tax increase and the debt necessary to build the facility. Community engagement over the course of several decades resulted in the final design of the new recreation center.