Carbondale Opens $13.4 Million Aquatics Center After Two Years Without a Public Pool
The $13.4 million Carbondale Aquatics Center opened Saturday, ending two summer seasons without a public pool. The facility replaces the John M. Fleet Pool, which served the town from 1979 to 2023.
After two summer seasons without a municipal pool, Carbondale residents finally have a place to swim again.
The new Carbondale Aquatics Center officially opened to the public on Saturday at noon, ending a drought that Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger said was felt across the community.
"We went two seasons without a pool, and that was felt across the community," Brendlinger said in a town news release. "This facility brings back swim lessons, the Sopris Barracuda Swim Team, kayaking skills training, paddleboard yoga, traditions like the Fourth of July celebration and the simple ability to gather, cool off, and be active."
A replacement for a 44-year-old staple
The new facility replaces the John M. Fleet Pool, which served Carbondale from 1979 to 2023. The old pool closed in 2023, leaving residents without a public swimming option for two consecutive summers.
The aquatics center features:
- A recreational pool
- A six-lane lap pool
- A climbing wall
- A toddler shelf
- A 16-person hot tub
- A diving board
The center is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the town release.
Who paid for it
The $13.4 million project was built by AD Miller Services Inc., a Colorado-based construction company. Funding came from multiple sources, according to the town:
- $9 million in bonds and interest
- $2.3 million in town reserve funds
- $2.1 million raised from more than 500 individual donors, families, foundations, civic organizations, and county and state grants
First all-electric facility in the region
The aquatics center is the first all-electric aquatics facility in the region, powered by 100% renewable energy and eliminating the use of natural gas, the release notes. That design choice aligns with Carbondale's long-term climate goals.
The building was designed by local architecture firm Land+Shelter. Managing principal Andi Korber called the project a labor of love for the Carbondale-based firm.
"We wanted the aquatics center to feel connected to Main Street and designed spaces that are welcoming, functional and built for everyday community use, from swim lessons to birthday parties and summer gatherings," Korber said. "We're especially proud that it's the first all-electric aquatics facility in the region, and we can't wait for the community to experience it."
A day of celebration
The Saturday grand opening began with a donor preview from 10 a.m. to noon. Public pool hours ran from noon to 6 p.m. with a cannonball contest, hourly giveaways, and family-friendly activities.
For updated hours and schedules, the town directs residents to carbondalerec.com.
For a community that went two years without a pool, the water is finally open.