During its regular meeting held on April 2, the Pagosa Springs Area Tourism Board unanimously approved a recommendation to move $500,000 that was previously set aside in 2023 by the Pagosa Springs Town Council and Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for the purpose of constructing a future event venue.
The request for the funds comes from the nonprofit board affiliated with the multipurpose pavilion, which is planning to have the facility constructed in Yamaguchi Park South.
According to an agenda brief from Jennifer Green, the tourism executive director, in 2023 the BoCC and town council both approved moving $500,000 from lodging tax revenues into a restricted fund, with the intent of using the funding on a new community event center.
The brief explains that the need for a permanent event venue “was identified in the adopted 2019 destination Master Plan.”
It also explains that the tourism board did not have a specific location or project in mind when the funds were initially transferred from the lodging tax reserves.
Brian Collabolletta represented the nonprofit organization associated with the multipurpose pavilion and explained that the multipurpose pavilion project began in 2012 at the South Pagosa Park and opened its first ice rink in 2015.
He mentioned the ice rink has opened every year since then except in 2020 and 2025, explaining that it was not sustainable to open for 28 days of operation.
“Its been a labor of love,” he added.
Collabolletta explained that the nonprofit organization has had plans “for years” to move forward with finding a permanent facility to operate a seasonal ice rink and event center.
He mentioned that the group was “ready to build” at the South Pagosa Park location two years ago, but, ultimately, the “plug was pulled.”
He explained that the new concept for the multipurpose pavilion would have ice rink-related activities in the winter, while during the summer the pavilion could host a variety of sport groups and town events.
“It’s always been labeled as a multipurpose pavilion,” he said.
Collabolletta also explained the ice rink would be refrigerated and could host hockey and curling tournaments.
He also noted its been an “absolute disaster” trying to have events in current location at South Pagosa Park as they are difficult to plan with uncertainties of the condition of the ice rink, noting that the “roof has always been the next step.”
Tourism board member Gary Williams commented that the town had set aside three acres of land in Yamaguchi Park South for a pavilion to be built.
Collabolletta explained the town set the land aside for the pavilion contingent on the nonprofit organization being able to raise enough funds for the project within three years.
“We’re gonna know within the next year if this is gonna happen or not,” he added, explaining that the organization is already one year into the three-year timeframe.
Collabolletta noted the town will take the land back if the organization is unable to raise the needed funds.
He then provided some more design details about the new pavilion, noting it would be close to 35,000 square feet with a concrete surface providing room for a stage, bleachers and even food trucks.
“Let’s have a place where we can do whatever we want,” he said.
Tourism board member Shane Lucero explained that the town and the nonprofit were both planning to apply for grants from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), leading to the original project of building a roof at the South Pagosa Park location being canceled.
Collabolletta claimed the town “knew we were applying” for GOCO funds, but he was told that the purchase of the Bob’s LP property for a river access improvement project was being prioritized.
“Bob’s LPs property had to happen … ‘We have to have it,’ is what I was told,” Collabolletta said, adding, “That really hosed us.”
Collabolletta went on to explain that the new project has an estimated cost of $3.5 million and that the nonprofit organization is applying for grants from various organizations and that there are a number of private donors who are waiting to see what funds are contributed from the town before making a donation.
He noted that the location at Yamaguchi Park South is an ideal spot, even though the project might be able to cut costs if a different location is chosen.
Green explained that the request is ultimately up to the town council and BoCC.
Collabolletta added the pavilion will be run by the nonprofit organization year-round, focusing mainly on winter activities.
Lucero commented that when the money was originally set aside, “it was for a project like this to happen.”
He added that the money was set aside so that when a project like this came up, the community would be prepared to contribute financially to it.
Green also noted that a main takeaway from the destination master plan was the need for a multipurpose pavilion or event center in the community.
Green then explained that if the nonprofit organization is unable to secure additional grants and funding for the project, then the funds would be returned to the tourism board.
“There’s no risk of losing those funds,” she said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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