Services

In addition to evaluating the needs of district residents and constructing new facilities, the MRD provides recreation programming year-round.

Sports for youth and adults are offered on an ongoing basis, changing from season to season. Three times per year, a recreation activity guide is published and distributed which offers an extensive selection of programs for all age groups. Guides are distributed in December, April and August for programs and activities. 

Community Rec Center Offering:  Aquatics, lap pool, slide, diving boards, fitness classes, free and machine weight equipment, indoor walking/jogging track, climbing wall, racquetball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, game center with pool, foosball, ping pong and shuffleboard as well as an indoor playground and child watch center.

Finally, caring for many indoor and outdoor facilities and providing support for extensive programs has led to a significant annual investment in maintenance staff and equipment. This area of the district will continue to expand as the community grows.

Montrose Recreation District

• Formed: 1956
• Boundaries: eastern half of Montrose County
• Form of government: special district
• Current population: 31,512
• Housing Units: 14,675
• Board of Directors: seven elected directors
• Total number of employees: 333 (22 Core Staff and 311 part time Staff)
• Assessed valuation: $472,167,347
• Mill Levy
  • Operating: 4.5 for 2021
  • Debt: 0.000
• Outstanding long-term debt: $47,560,804 (Certificates of Participation)

Annual MRD Operating Revenue

As a special district, we do not receive funding from the City of Montrose or Montrose County. For full budget details Click here.

District Boundaries

The District covers a large land area of approximately 500 square miles. The boundaries are roughly south to the county line, east to the county line, north about one-half way up Menoken Hill, and west extending approximately 12 miles from the Montrose City limits onto the Uncompahgre Plateau. The district boundary map can be viewed online or you can stop by the Aquatics Center front desk.

It should also be noted that lands over 40 acres are generally omitted from the District boundaries, therefore ranches and farms are usually excluded from the District. This is a result of the original special district law enacted by the State of Colorado. The County Assessors Office keeps records of these larger tracts, which become subdivided, and are then included in our District.

Formation of Montrose Recreation District

The Montrose Recreation District (MRD) was formed in 1956, as a special district to build and operate a summer swimming pool. As a special district, it falls under the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S. 32). The district is not part the city or county government, but instead assesses its own mill levy and adopts its own policies and budgets.

As a result of the district’s formation, an outdoor swimming pool was built in 1957, on South 12th near the existing Magic Circle Theater. The MRD owned the property on which the theater is currently standing and leased it to the theater group for many years. In 1988, the property was sold and proceeds were used to retire a revenue bond, which was used in the construction of the new Aquatics Center.

Employees

There were no full-time employees of the district until 1972. At that time, the MRD began branching out by developing an activity guide and looking into other facilities for the community. The growth in the MRD has corresponded with that of the surrounding area, which has been significant since the mid-1980s.

Board of Directors

The district is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors who are elected at large, bi-annually. Board members serve a four-year term unless appointed mid-term.

The Board of Directors is a policy-making board. It meets monthly on the second or fourth Thursday, with the exception of holidays, for regular meetings. Special meetings are held as needed. Meetings are open to the public.

Other Entities

The district cooperates with other area entities such as the RE-1J School District, the City of Montrose, Montrose County, and various private or community organizations. All are working together to make the community a better place to live.