Second Rec Center Funded by Cannabis Taxes Opens in Aurora, Colorado

Officials in Aurora, Colorado on Tuesday will hold a grand opening ceremony for a recreation center funded by cannabis taxes, KDVR reports. The Southeast Recreation Center and Fieldhouse, which opened last week, cost $42 million, which was provided through adult-use cannabis sales taxes. 

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director Brooke Bell said feedback from the community “guided the creation” of the “exceptional facility.” The center includes a public art installation created by Adam Buente of Project One Studio.

The center includes an indoor fieldhouse, full-sized professional-grade turf field, multi-use gymnasium, 1/9-mile long track, fitness area, and natatorium which includes a swimming pool, spa pool, and leisure pool.

It is the fifth full-service recreation center in the city, Erin Pulliam of the City of Aurora Special Events told KDVR, and is the second to be fully funded by cannabis taxes. Pulliam said the Central Recreational Center that opened in 2019 cost $30 million and was also funded by cannabis tax revenues.

In 2021, the Aurora City Council increased the city’s tax on adult-use cannabis sales from 7.75% to 8.75%, according to a Westword report. Additional revenues are used to fund youth violence prevention projects.

The state of Colorado collects an additional 15% sales tax on licensed cannabis sales.