What is inside the Durango Community Recreation Center?
A lot of water and a lot of gym. The city's Recreation Center sits at 2700 Main Avenue, phone 970-375-7300. According to the City of Durango, it has:
- Lap and leisure pools, a hot tub, a water slide and an outdoor splash pad
- Racquetball courts, an indoor track and a gymnasium
- An aerobic studio, free weights, weight machines and cardio equipment
- A climbing wall and a youth games area
- Community meeting rooms and an outdoor amphitheater
You can also hire a personal trainer there, and the city rents out space in the building. The city lists facility rentals as a separate service.
When is the rec center open?
Weekdays are the long days. The City of Durango lists these hours for the whole facility:
- Monday to Friday: 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Pool area: closes 30 minutes earlier than the building, and opens noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays
The city's aquatics page gives pool hours of 5:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, open family swim from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. The city posts a pool schedule month by month, so check the current one for lap and leisure times. Swim meets can close the lap pool for a weekend.
Holidays change things. The center is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It runs short hours, 5:45 a.m. to noon, on New Year's Eve, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas Eve.
How much does it cost to get in?
A day pass is $8 for ages 18 to 61, $6.50 for ages 4 to 17 and $7 for seniors 62 to 89. Kids 3 and under get in free with a paying guardian, and anyone 90 or older is free. Here's the rest of the price list from the city:
| Pass | Youth | Ages 18-61 | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 punches | $100 | $140 | $115 |
| 3 months | $130 | $160 | $135 |
| 6 months | $190 | $250 | $195 |
| Annual | $295 | $415 | $300 |
Passes are non-refundable. Towel service costs $1 with a daily pass, and more on longer passes. Family pricing exists for 3-month, 6-month and annual passes: the first person pays full price, and each added person pays half. The city caps that at two people per household, and there's no family rate on daily passes.
What are the pool rules?
Plenty, and lifeguards enforce them. Per the city's pool rules:
- Leisure pool: play features are for small children, 50 pounds and under. One person per tube, and no climbing over pool walls.
- Water slide: one rider at a time.
- Diving board: you must be able to swim 25 yards.
- Hot tub: up to 23 guests, with a recommended maximum stay of 10 minutes. Kids 6 and under need a grown-up with them. Young children, pregnant women, older people and anyone with heart problems should check with a physician first.
Does the rec center offer swim lessons and classes?
Yes. Group swim lessons are by registration, which opens at 8 a.m. on the first Friday of the month before classes start. The city says there are no swim classes in December, March, April or May. Private lessons are by request form. The Durango Swim Club has trained there since February 2002 in an 11-lane pool, and the center offers Red Cross lifeguard and water safety instructor classes. Lifeguard students must be 15 by the end of the course.
How do you get there without a car?
The Main Avenue Trolley stops at the Durango Rec Center, just past Durango High School, on its way north. Our answer on public transportation in Durango has hours and fares, and the Durango parks and trails guide covers the outdoor side of local recreation. Teens heading to the high school nearby can read about Durango's high schools.