Gypsum residents lukewarm on ambitious plan for upgrades around the town’s golf course

Town of Gypsum officials have some work to do if they’re going to sell town voters on the idea of a $29 million recreation improvement plan for the town.

The Gypsum Town Council on Tuesday heard from consultant Bill Ray about the results of a recent survey regarding residents’ attitudes toward the plan and general attitudes about the state of the town.

The survey was mailed in April to more than 3,500 households in town. The survey ultimately garnered 386 responses. Ray said the responses showed a “strong balance” among the town’s various demographic groups. The biggest share of responses — 25.68% — came from the 45-54 age group.

Nearly half of the respondents — 45% — said the town is heading in the right direction, and more than half approve of the work the Gypsum Town Council is doing. And nearly two-thirds — more than 60% — approve of the town’s management of the town’s tax dollars.

Residents’ top concerns include growth and overcrowding, the cost and availability of housing and taxes and property tax assessments.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

Is the plan too ambitious?

The satisfaction with the town starts to change when it comes to the idea of the ambitious recreation master plan.

That plan, in the works since 2022, proposes improvements around the golf course clubhouse. The current plan proposes renovations to the current golf course clubhouse and restaurant and moving the golf course pro shop and cart storage to a new building that would also house a multi-purpose pavilion on the site of the current lap pool.

Parking would also be expanded, and property across the street would add pickleball courts and one tennis court. That site would also add children’s play areas as well as picnic and other areas, as well as shade structures and landscaping to provide some privacy for the neighbors.

The plan could also include a splash area for kids and an indoor-outdoor recreation area at the current Gypsum Recreation Center.

The survey showed lukewarm support for all those elements. On a scale of five, none of those elements had a support score of more than 3.22, with the pickleball and tennis idea scoring just a 2.38. Ray said that reflects the “small, dedicated user base” for those activities.

The survey showed that efforts to build awareness about the plan seem to be effective, with 68% of respondents saying they had either “a lot” or “some” awareness of the master plan.

So-so support

The so-so support for elements of the plan translated to lukewarm support for the idea of funding. When asked if they’d support a 1% sales tax to fund the plan, only 42% supported the idea. A similar number supported the idea of a bond measure.

Of those either opposed to or unsure about support for a sales tax or a bond measure, 24% said taxes are already too high in Gypsum or other local districts. Another 17% said they don’t support the idea of the project, with another 16% opposed to tax increases in general.

Other opposition was due to the general cost of living and the town’s recent increases in its water and wastewater rates.

Given the chance to respond with additional comments, 150 people took the opportunity to provide their input.

One resident stated that the town should make recreation improvements within its existing budgets.

Another responded that “There is no guarantee that revenue from tourist visits won’t drop.” That resident added that “my family is cutting spending anywhere we can. Even though utility fees, taxes, and groceries have skyrocketed over 100%, but my wages only increase by 3-5% per year … the average family can’t afford any more than we already pay.”

But another resident in the same demographic group as the other commenters, a female between 55 and 64 years old, wrote that” “We cannot make every person 100% happy, but, I am confident, we will all benefit from these improvements.”