Over-50 Softball League Coming to Fort Collins Spring 2026
Fort Collins will launch a 50-plus softball league in spring 2026, filling a long-standing gap in recreational programming for active seniors who have been playing against significantly younger opponents or seeking leagues outside the city.
The announcement came during the October 21 City Council meeting after Russell Brown, a District 2 resident, requested the league during public comment and described an injury he sustained while pitching against younger players.
"I still like to play softball," Brown said. "Where we moved from in Overland Park, there was not only a 50-plus, but a 60-plus and a 70-plus league."
Kelly Ohlson, director of Fort Collins Parks and Recreation, confirmed the department is already working toward a spring 2026 launch.
"I do believe actually we have good news regarding that and that that league will be starting in 2026," Ohlson told the council. "Spring of 2026."
Injury Prompted Request
Brown told council he fractured a finger in four places when a line drive struck his hand while pitching in Fort Collins' regular adult softball league, where players in their 20s and 30s compete alongside seniors.
"About two months ago, while, you know, we play now in the city league against 20 and 30 year olds, I was pitching and I got a line drive that shattered this finger in four places," Brown said. "So it's kind of a safety issue as well as just, you know, people over 50 want to have fun."
Brown moved to Fort Collins from the Kansas City metro area approximately six years ago. Overland Park, Kansas, a city comparable in size to Fort Collins, maintains three age-stratified softball leagues: 50-plus, 60-plus and 70-plus.
Fort Collins' current adult softball league is open to all ages without separate divisions for older players.
Growing Senior Population Drives Demand
Fort Collins had approximately 43,800 residents age 50 or older as of 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The city's population aged 60 and older totaled roughly 29,000.
The senior population has grown steadily over the past decade. In 2013, residents 50 and older represented about 22 percent of Fort Collins' population. By 2023, that share had increased to nearly 25 percent, according to the Fort Collins Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Demographic projections indicate residents 65 and older will constitute more than 16 percent of the city's population by 2030, according to city planning documents.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted in 2021, specifically identifies the "rapidly growing senior segment" as requiring expanded recreational programming. Community surveys conducted by ETC Institute in 2019 and 2020 showed increased demand for age-specific fitness and recreation activities, including team sports for residents 60 and older.
Other Northern Colorado Cities Lack Age-Specific Leagues
Most Northern Colorado municipalities offer general adult softball leagues but not age-restricted programming for seniors.
Boulder, Loveland, Longmont and Greeley all operate adult recreational softball leagues primarily open to ages 18 and older. These cities occasionally host "senior games" and clinics but do not maintain regularly scheduled 50-plus-only leagues.
Greeley offers general adult softball along with senior recreation fitness programs but not age-restricted sports teams. Denver Metro area cities including Aurora, Arvada and Lakewood maintain multi-generational adult leagues but rarely offer senior-specific sports leagues beyond fitness or walking clubs.
The absence of age-specific leagues in Northern Colorado has forced active seniors to either compete against younger players or travel significant distances to participate in leagues in other states or regions.
League Will Address Safety and Enjoyment
Age-integrated adult sports leagues carry higher injury risks for older participants. National Recreation and Park Association documents recommend age-segregated leagues for older adults to minimize injury risk and enhance enjoyment.
NRPA publications advise modified rules for senior teams, including flexible bats and restricted base running, to lower injury risk. These adjustments help address the physical differences between older and younger players while maintaining competitive play.
Fort Collins' new 50-plus league will follow these best practices, according to information presented in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
The department plans to fund the league through a combination of general fund support, participation fees typically ranging from $35 to $65 per person per season, and targeted program sponsorships. Comparable adult softball leagues in Boulder, Loveland, Greeley and Longmont charge team-based fees between $350 and $650 per team per season.
Fort Collins Parks and Recreation can be reached at 970-221-6640 for questions about the upcoming 50-plus softball league.