MetRec Strategic rec plans
New Recreation Information is on the way
Below you’ll find MetRec’s strategic plan adopted by the board in March 2021. Since then MetRec’s North Subdistrict Ballot issue 6B passed in November 2022. As a result, MetRec’s recreation budget will increase by about 300% from around $300K to $1.2M in 2023. For the past few months MetRec has been meeting a wide range of stakeholders for feedback on three main topics:
- Feedback on the 2023 Draft Recreation Grant Program and Applications
- Feedback on an upcoming 2023 Strategic Recreation Needs Assessment Survey
- Feedback on our community’s need for a Regional Recreation Masterplan.
We’ll be rolling out the 2023 Recreation Grants Program on April 3rd. The survey is tentatively scheduled to be published May 1st. And we are still gauging the feasibility of pursuing a regional recreation masterplan in 2024.
For now this page is populated with historic information about MetRec’s strategic aims and programs. An update this recreation page will be published no later than April 3rd. In the meantime please see our news and insights page for the most up-to-date information.
All else below is historic information.
MetRec's Strategy
The District’s development as a recreation special district, funded by a 1 mil levy property tax and Colorado Lottery proceeds, makes it a dependable community cornerstone. With a service area that encompasses almost all of Gunnison County, MetRec harbors the unique ability to facilitate collaborative recreation initiatives across silos and jurisdictional boundaries. Given Gunnison County’s steady population growth and continued value of recreation, this ability fills an important community need that our municipalities cannot achieve independently.
Encompassing five municipalities, MetRec can harness support from across town and city boundaries to deliver a collective impact capable of delivering key, valley-wide recreation needs. Alternatively, MetRec can work within its north and south sub-district boundaries to support community-specific recreation needs.
For these reasons, MetRec has chosen to focus on recreation initiatives that achieve solutions needed by the entire valley. We seek to serve as an integrator capable of innovating partnerships to accomplish vital community recreation opportunities while also leveraging funding from outside Gunnison County.
Outdoor recreation opportunities are plentiful in the Gunnison Valley and surrounding areas. Residents and visitors alike flock to trailheads, parks, wildflower meadows, campgrounds and rivers to experience world-class recreation.
MetRec strives to support outdoor recreation needs by working directly with local outdoor recreation stakeholders and through its partnership with the Gunnison Stewardship Fund.
How We Support Outdoor Recreation:
Developed Recreation Amenities is one of MetRec’s eight strategic priorities. Regional assessments and stakeholder outreach confirmed the demand for additional developed recreation amenities, such as field and ice space and indoor recreation facilities.
In alignment with its strategy, MetRec will work to provide leadership and coordinate responsible planning and implementation of recreation amenities that require regional support to achieve successful development and sustainable operation. This process seeks to ensure efficient utilization of existing facilities, the prevention of duplicative services, and an understanding of near and long-term capital, operating and replacement costs associated with new projects.
How We Support Developed Recreation Amenities:
MetRec strives to support efforts that reduce local barriers faced by youth, elderly, and underserved communities in the planning and implementation of recreation programs and amenities and through collaborative community initiatives.
MetRec strives to support valued community recreation opportunities. Ensuring quality amenities and sustainable programming is a priority. Engaging in, promoting, and financially supporting community-based recreation initiatives is critical to improving our citizens’ quality of life.
We seek to engage with a diversity of recreation groups and entities to stay informed of current and planned recreation project and programming needs.
How We Support Collaboration
Recreation Advisory Committees
MetRec’s support of recreation initiatives is informed by input from two Advisory Committees; the North and South Recreation Advisory Committees. Each committee represents recreation interests from MetRec’s north and south sub-districts. The north sub-district encompasses the area located within the Crested Butte Fire Protection District; approximately the East River valley north of Round Mountain, including Crested Butte South, Skyland, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and the surrounding area. The south sub-district encompasses the rest of MetRec’s Service Area.
To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of MetRec’s Recreation Advisory Committees, please view this info sheet.