The start of construction for a planned major upgrade at Bear River Park on the west end of Steamboat Springs has been delayed due to a water connection issue.

Matthew Barnard, development manager for the Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation Department, said this week that plans to work through one of two adjacent property owners for a potable water connection to the park did not materialize because the other projects did not begin when planned.

So, the parks and recreation department is revising the water supply design for Bear River Park to connect to a water supply at the south end of Curve Court, Barnard said. That means construction for a new boat ramp at the park will not move forward as planned for this year and instead is planned for 2026, he said.

The new boat launch will be installed where the pedestrian sidewalk now meets the Yampa River near the existing Bear River Skatepark.

The Parks and Recreation Department finalized the overall upgrade design in early 2024 and has $7 million in committed funding for infrastructure work that was scheduled to begin last fall. However, one of the prerequisites for the park upgrade is to run potable water to the site, Barnard said.

The park upgrade project will be completed in phases and could hit its original completion goal of 2027 only if contractor availability and funding align, Barnard said.

Final design for the 18-acre park was developed with help from public input, a steering committee and designers. Approximately 13 acres will be developed with park features, and approximately 5 acres on the west side will remain as natural open space and wetlands, Barnard said.

The design includes a full-sized basketball court, three sand volleyball courts, additional parking spaces including 20 boat trailer parking spots, a bird watching station, large stone steps to the river and an expanded concrete skate park adjacent to the preexisting skate park. The existing parking area will be moved from the middle of the overall parcel to the periphery, Barnard said, and a picnic area will be added to the middle of the park.

Other features include two age-divided playgrounds separated by a shaded picnic pavilion, an informal multi-purpose play field, and improvements to the bike dirt track including a progressional skills course.

The last phase of construction is scheduled for 2027 and is currently unfunded. Those improvements would include installation of the sports courts, playgrounds and multi-purpose field. The city hopes to apply for Great Outdoors Colorado grants to assist with the project, Barnard said.