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Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs City Council is struggling to determine the best way to improve local recreation facilities.

Tuesday night, council members said the numerous options currently on the table for recreation development will require a larger conversation with several parties in order to achieve the best solution. The parties include the Steamboat Springs School District, which could collaborate with the city to include shared recreation facilities in its new Soda Creek Elementary School or in its expansion of Strawberry Park Elementary School; Citizens for a Recreation Center, a community group working to place a brand-new recreation center on the 2007 city ballot; and the Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation Association, which has announced plans to expand its downtown facility.

"I'm wondering how we can pull all these pieces together," Council member Towny Anderson said.

City staff urged the council not to delay the decision-making process.

Director Chris Wilson and Recreation Supervisor Susan Petersen of the city's Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services Department presented the council with the department's Strategic Transition Plan for youth and teen programs. The plan includes a recommendation to immediately remodel The Igloo, the city's youth and teen recreation facility adjacent to Howelsen Ice Arena.

"At the crux of this whole discussion is the need for facilities," Petersen said, saying an average of 45 children occupy The Igloo's 1,500 square feet of "programmable space" every day.

City Manager Alan Lanning told the council that although money for renovations to The Igloo is part of the city's 2007 recreation budget, he and other city staff are unclear as to how - or if - the council would like that money spent.

"We really don't know where we are," Lanning told the council. "You, as a body, need to have a full-length discussion : so that we have an outcome that is as beneficial as possible and best utilizes the taxpayer's money. I don't want to say (city staff members) are in a holding pattern, but we're based on some uncertainty right now. "

One local parent said children suffer most from a lack of local facilities.

"I would encourage you not to ignore the youth, and not to wait," Linda Haltom told the Council.

City Council President Susan Dellinger said there is room for another recreation discussion, with members of Citizens for a Recreation Center, at next week's council meeting.

"We're going to move forward next Tuesday," Dellinger said.

- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203

or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com