EPIC Gate Access on Stuart Street

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The City of Fort Collins is evaluating long-term options to improve traffic flow from Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC). Traffic studies are currently underway to assess whether the existing south gate on Stuart Street should be renovated to help with managing traffic. The goals of this evaluation are to enhance safety for patrons, reduce congestion and ensure reliable emergency access to the facility.

After receiving input from neighbors near EPIC, the City will not permanently open the south gate on Stuart Street at this time.

The City hosted an open house on Monday, March 2, 2026, to provide additional context for local neighbors and share the criteria for when the gate on Stuart Street may open. Click here to review the presentation boards displayed at the open house and read a summary of the meeting.

Current Conditions and Concerns

As visitation at Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) has grown over time, combined with the aging of the existing infrastructure, the need for more suitable and safe access to this busy facility has increased. Currently, there is only one full-time entry and exit point for the facility, which can be accessed from Riverside Avenue. On the south side of the facility, there is an emergency gate adjacent to Stuart Street that was installed when the facility was built.

Map of EPIC facility and roads nearby


During events where a high volume of cars may be coming and going from the facility, the emergency gate on the south side of the facility can be temporarily opened to Stuart Street. Opening the gate enables traffic to flow more freely from the facility, reducing the number of backups that occur on the drive towards Riverside Avenue. These backups create a safety hazard in the event an emergency vehicle needs to access the facility quickly, as well as a high volume of congestion within the parking lot, posing concerns for pedestrians.

About Edora Pool Ice Center

Built in 1987 and expanded in 2003, Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) is a high-use recreation facility located in east Fort Collins. The facility includes two sheets of ice as well as an indoor 50-meter x 25-yard pool, two 3-meter and two 1-meter diving boards, and separate warm water therapy and instructional pools.

EPIC has the highest visitation of any recreation facility in Fort Collins and hosts more than one million patrons each year, including visitation for large-scale ice and aquatic competitions.

The City of Fort Collins is evaluating long-term options to improve traffic flow from Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC). Traffic studies are currently underway to assess whether the existing south gate on Stuart Street should be renovated to help with managing traffic. The goals of this evaluation are to enhance safety for patrons, reduce congestion and ensure reliable emergency access to the facility.

After receiving input from neighbors near EPIC, the City will not permanently open the south gate on Stuart Street at this time.

The City hosted an open house on Monday, March 2, 2026, to provide additional context for local neighbors and share the criteria for when the gate on Stuart Street may open. Click here to review the presentation boards displayed at the open house and read a summary of the meeting.

Current Conditions and Concerns

As visitation at Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) has grown over time, combined with the aging of the existing infrastructure, the need for more suitable and safe access to this busy facility has increased. Currently, there is only one full-time entry and exit point for the facility, which can be accessed from Riverside Avenue. On the south side of the facility, there is an emergency gate adjacent to Stuart Street that was installed when the facility was built.

Map of EPIC facility and roads nearby


During events where a high volume of cars may be coming and going from the facility, the emergency gate on the south side of the facility can be temporarily opened to Stuart Street. Opening the gate enables traffic to flow more freely from the facility, reducing the number of backups that occur on the drive towards Riverside Avenue. These backups create a safety hazard in the event an emergency vehicle needs to access the facility quickly, as well as a high volume of congestion within the parking lot, posing concerns for pedestrians.

About Edora Pool Ice Center

Built in 1987 and expanded in 2003, Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) is a high-use recreation facility located in east Fort Collins. The facility includes two sheets of ice as well as an indoor 50-meter x 25-yard pool, two 3-meter and two 1-meter diving boards, and separate warm water therapy and instructional pools.

EPIC has the highest visitation of any recreation facility in Fort Collins and hosts more than one million patrons each year, including visitation for large-scale ice and aquatic competitions.

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  • Share How many emergencies/accidents required opening the gate in 2024? What safety issues required opening the gate? on Facebook Share How many emergencies/accidents required opening the gate in 2024? What safety issues required opening the gate? on Twitter Share How many emergencies/accidents required opening the gate in 2024? What safety issues required opening the gate? on Linkedin Email How many emergencies/accidents required opening the gate in 2024? What safety issues required opening the gate? link

    How many emergencies/accidents required opening the gate in 2024? What safety issues required opening the gate?

    crdalbow asked about 2 months ago

    Thank you for your question, and apologies for the delayed response. We recently discovered that questions submitted through the project page were being routed to a staff member who no longer works at the City. As a result, questions were not received by the current project team. The issue has now been corrected, and we are reviewing and responding to all questions.  

    To answer your question, it is unknown how many accidents, emergencies or safety issues required opening the gate in 2024. Poudre Fire Authority and UCHealth do not share trip or route details with the City of Fort Collins.

  • Share How many accidents/emergencies/safety issues required opening the gate in 2024? on Facebook Share How many accidents/emergencies/safety issues required opening the gate in 2024? on Twitter Share How many accidents/emergencies/safety issues required opening the gate in 2024? on Linkedin Email How many accidents/emergencies/safety issues required opening the gate in 2024? link

    How many accidents/emergencies/safety issues required opening the gate in 2024?

    crdalbow asked about 2 months ago

    Thank you for your question, and apologies for the delayed response. We recently discovered that questions submitted through the project page were being routed to a staff member who no longer works at the City. As a result, questions were not received by the current project team. The issue has now been corrected, and we are reviewing and responding to all questions.

    To answer your question, it is unknown how many accidents, emergencies or safety issues required opening the gate in 2024. Poudre Fire Authority and UCHealth do not share trip or route details with the City of Fort Collins.

  • Share 1) What constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? Please define it clearly. 2) Who decides what constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? on Facebook Share 1) What constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? Please define it clearly. 2) Who decides what constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? on Twitter Share 1) What constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? Please define it clearly. 2) Who decides what constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? on Linkedin Email 1) What constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? Please define it clearly. 2) Who decides what constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? link

    1) What constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate? Please define it clearly. 2) Who decides what constitutes a big event that would warrant opening the gate?

    Stadt asked about 1 month ago

    The gate will be open for vehicle traffic exiting EPIC if one or more of the following conditions occur: 

    • An event or events are expected to have more than 450 people leaving EPIC within a one-hour window.
    • The parking lot exceeds 85% capacity (281 out of 330 spaces). 
    • Emergency Services determines opening the gate is necessary. 
    • It is more than two hours before school begins or after school ends at Riffenburgh Elementary and Ridgeview Classical Schools. 


    Decisions on when the gate will be opened will be determined by City Recreation staff and/or Emergency Services. 

  • Share What good is a project website with a box where interested parties can sign up for emails from the City on project updates? I signed up months ago but have not received a single email update! And neither have other folks who have signed up for email updates. An email announcement for the March 2 Info Session should have gone out long ago! It gives me the impression that you actually do NOT want people to be informed. The website with the sign-up box is deliberately misleading people. Please comment! on Facebook Share What good is a project website with a box where interested parties can sign up for emails from the City on project updates? I signed up months ago but have not received a single email update! And neither have other folks who have signed up for email updates. An email announcement for the March 2 Info Session should have gone out long ago! It gives me the impression that you actually do NOT want people to be informed. The website with the sign-up box is deliberately misleading people. Please comment! on Twitter Share What good is a project website with a box where interested parties can sign up for emails from the City on project updates? I signed up months ago but have not received a single email update! And neither have other folks who have signed up for email updates. An email announcement for the March 2 Info Session should have gone out long ago! It gives me the impression that you actually do NOT want people to be informed. The website with the sign-up box is deliberately misleading people. Please comment! on Linkedin Email What good is a project website with a box where interested parties can sign up for emails from the City on project updates? I signed up months ago but have not received a single email update! And neither have other folks who have signed up for email updates. An email announcement for the March 2 Info Session should have gone out long ago! It gives me the impression that you actually do NOT want people to be informed. The website with the sign-up box is deliberately misleading people. Please comment! link

    What good is a project website with a box where interested parties can sign up for emails from the City on project updates? I signed up months ago but have not received a single email update! And neither have other folks who have signed up for email updates. An email announcement for the March 2 Info Session should have gone out long ago! It gives me the impression that you actually do NOT want people to be informed. The website with the sign-up box is deliberately misleading people. Please comment!

    Stadt asked about 1 month ago

    Thank you for raising this concern. We recently learned that subscribers were not automatically notified when updates were posted to the project webpage. That was our misunderstanding of how the notification system functions, and we have since corrected the issue to ensure subscribers receive future updates directly.

    In advance of the March 2 open house, postcards were mailed to nearby residents the week of February 16 and a notice was shared on Nextdoor on February 24. We also posted information on the project webpage as soon as the date was solidified. That said, we recognize that email is an important communication tool for many community members, and we will be using it moving forward now that the subscription function is properly understood.

    We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and for staying engaged in the project.

  • Share I think the wording of the update, "...suspending consideration of permanently opening the South gate at this time...", leaves a strong inference that the City could change their mind at any time if they think gate removal would help meet their goals in the future. This leaves residents opposed to the permanent opening of the gate concerned that they will be fighting the same battle all over again down the road. What assurances can the City give that opening permanent access from Riverside to Stuart WILL NOT happen? on Facebook Share I think the wording of the update, "...suspending consideration of permanently opening the South gate at this time...", leaves a strong inference that the City could change their mind at any time if they think gate removal would help meet their goals in the future. This leaves residents opposed to the permanent opening of the gate concerned that they will be fighting the same battle all over again down the road. What assurances can the City give that opening permanent access from Riverside to Stuart WILL NOT happen? on Twitter Share I think the wording of the update, "...suspending consideration of permanently opening the South gate at this time...", leaves a strong inference that the City could change their mind at any time if they think gate removal would help meet their goals in the future. This leaves residents opposed to the permanent opening of the gate concerned that they will be fighting the same battle all over again down the road. What assurances can the City give that opening permanent access from Riverside to Stuart WILL NOT happen? on Linkedin Email I think the wording of the update, "...suspending consideration of permanently opening the South gate at this time...", leaves a strong inference that the City could change their mind at any time if they think gate removal would help meet their goals in the future. This leaves residents opposed to the permanent opening of the gate concerned that they will be fighting the same battle all over again down the road. What assurances can the City give that opening permanent access from Riverside to Stuart WILL NOT happen? link

    I think the wording of the update, "...suspending consideration of permanently opening the South gate at this time...", leaves a strong inference that the City could change their mind at any time if they think gate removal would help meet their goals in the future. This leaves residents opposed to the permanent opening of the gate concerned that they will be fighting the same battle all over again down the road. What assurances can the City give that opening permanent access from Riverside to Stuart WILL NOT happen?

    Jon asked 28 days ago

    City of Fort Collins staff are unable to commit to future City Council decisions. At this time, there are no plans to permanently open the gates.

Page last updated: 03 Mar 2026, 12:13 PM