FAQs

At this time, the working title of the project is "Southeast Community Center". As plans for the design and construction of the facility are finalized, an official name will be determined and then used in all future communication and signage.

The SECC will be located on 10 acres at the corner of Rock Creek and Ziegler, next to Fossil Ridge High School. The land for this project was donated by Poudre School District.

Planning and design work are underway and will continue throughout 2025 and 2026. Construction is estimated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Construction will continue through 2027, and is anticipated to be completed by 2028. As the project timeline evolves, updates will be provided regularly.

The City will fund its share of the project from both the 2015 Community Capital Improvement Program tax and the 2050 Parks and Recreation tax, passed by voters in 2023. The City has also received a $2 million grant from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The land was donated by Poudre School District, and Poudre LIbraries is contributing funding for the library portion of the facility. Additionally, the City will contribute funding towards the shared spaces, site costs, aquatics, and recreation areas.

Poudre School District entered an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City and Poudre Libraries in 2023. Their commitment, per the IGA, is to fund a portion of the indoor lap lanes, supporting spaces and the site. The exact amount of the contribution will be determined upon completion of the design. The value of the land that PSD donated to the project will be credited to the amount owed by PSD for the agreed-upon contribution to the project.

The easiest way to stay informed about the new Southeast Community Center & Library project is by sharing your email via the subscription link on the Our City page. As opportunities become available for public input and participation, we'll share those with subscribers, as well as through both City and Library social media channels and websites.

The ballot language approved by voters was as follows: This project will build a Community Center in southeast Fort Collins focused on innovation, technology, art, recreation, and the creative process. The Center will also have a large outdoor leisure pool with water slides, sprays and jets, decks, a lazy river, and open swimming area.

Once the budget is finalized, we will release more information on the specific amenities that will be part of this facility. We anticipate spaces for community use, childcare, recreation programs, fitness, sports, and indoor lap lanes. The inclusion of amenities and features will be dependent upon space allowances, budget constraints and input from community users.

The Library District’s long-term master plan guides our 20-year vision for library services and facilities within the District. The master planning process identified key considerations for strategic decision-making.

• More space is needed for public service to meet the community’s vision for service and align with best practices for library space planning and design. Together, Old Town, Harmony, and Council Tree libraries are estimated to provide only 60% to 70% of the space needed today.
• It is estimated that 160,000 square feet of space for public service will be needed to serve the District’s projected 2040 population – at least double the space provided in the Library District’s three current libraries.

The Master Plan prioritizes full-service, expanded library facilities in southeast Fort Collins to accommodate the growing population in that area, including Timnath.

• The community served by the Library District is projected to grow by more than 40% over the next 20 years, mostly within the Fort Collins city limits. We are seeing examples of that growth in the southeast area along the Harmony corridor.
• Council Tree Library, which opened in 2009, was designed to accommodate a service area population of 47,000 people; currently, that population has grown to over 63,000.

Visitors can expect expanded, essential services including programs and events, public computing and technology, meeting and study spaces, quiet areas, children and teen areas, and a dynamic collection of library books and materials. Inclusion of additional library features and amenities will be dependent on space allowances, budget constraints, and input from community users.

The Library District will continue to evolve and grow its services at all existing branches, and will also continue to identify opportunities for a full-service library in north Fort Collins. This is another key growth area identified in the Library's Master Plan.