Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no.  Numerous pool engineers who evaluate and design these facilities for a living have evaluated the facility and all have come to the same conclusion; the pool has outlived its useful life.  Just to replace the Icabone Pool here are some of the items that must be addressed to bring it up to code.

1)      The deep end of the pool is currently at 10’ of depth.  To have a diving board the depth must be at 11’6”.  At the current depth, the diving boards must be removed.

2)      To hold swimming meets the depth of the main swimming area must change.  Currently the blocks at the deeper end are 5’ and the shallow end for turns is 3’.  The current code for meets is 6’7” for the blocks and between 3’6” and 4’ for turns.  The entire main pool area must be made deeper.

3)      There is a fiberglass liner in the pool.  This is normally done when there are leaks in the pool structure and is a last-ditch effort to extend the life of the pool.  It is basically a big band aid.  A structural engineer would have to come in and take samples of the concrete to make sure it was structurally sound.  However, it is a long shot at best.  If the pool had to be made deeper, the concrete would have to be replaced anyway.

4)      Every pipe, valve, and fitting would have to be replaced according to the engineers.  To meet circulation requirements the pipes must be 6” or 8” pipes. The pipes are currently 4”.

5)      There are two surge tanks at the Icabone Pool.  Combined, they only meet 8% of the recommended standard.  These would have to be increased, which means taking out more concrete and expanding the tanks.

6)      The kiddie pool must have zero entry to meet ADA requirements, which means removing the existing concrete and starting over. Just like the main body of water, all pipes, valves, and fittings must be replaced.  This pool also has numerous liner issues.

7)      There are not enough bathroom stalls or showers in the men’s and women’s bathrooms.  This would need to be more than doubled to meet code.

8)      There is not a roof over the bathrooms and there would need to be load bearing walls added to install a roof and bring it up to code. 

9)      The mechanical room has numerous needs; it is too small, two chemical rooms would need to be added, there is no pump pit, and the boiler and sand filters would need to be replaced.

10)  When you add up the issues with numbers 7, 8, and 9, the entire building will need to be demolished and rebuilt to meet current codes.

11)  There is no slide at the current pool and if one similar to what existed is added, either a runout slide or a new small body of water would need to be added.  A separate tank to pull water for the slide would need to be added.

12)  A parking lot would need to be added.

These are just some examples of what would need to happen to bring the old Icabone Pool to code, there are actually more issues to deal with.  In other words, the entire facility needs to be replaced.  The cost of doing this will most likely exceed $12 million when you factor in demolition, site work (parking lot, landscaping, caissons, etc.), new bathhouse/mechanical, pool, slide, and soft costs.  Please note this is going with something similar in scope to the Icabone Swimming Pool, not multiple bodies of water.    

As explained in previous presentations, in 2024 all three ballot measures needed to pass to construct and operate a replacement pool. While two construction measures passed, operational funding did not. This created a situation in which construction was funded, but there was no new source of funds to operate the pool. The Recreation District has consistently stated that without sufficient operational funding, construction will not begin, which remains the case.

Some citizens have requested that we discontinue the pool project since not all measures passed in 2024 while others have urged us to proceed with construction since it was authorized. Both perspectives are valid. As a result, a group of citizens approached the Recreation District and the City in 2026 to propose a modest pool option and ballot language that addresses both construction and operations without increasing taxes.

The 0.3% sales tax for the swimming pool’s capital construction began on January 1, 2025.

This tax supported as much as a $24.8 million bond, with a maximum repayment of $44 million in principal and interest in 2024. The tax will end/expire on December 31, 2050.  The only way for this date to change is through a vote of the people, as required by TABOR. 

On November 4, 2025 the voters of the City of Cañon City turned down the proposed Excise Tax, to fund pool operations, by 9.32%.  This means the project is in the same position as it was following the 2024 election, capital construction has been authorized while operational funding has not.  The Recreation District Board of Directors has made it clear, the pool will not be constructed unless operational funding has been secured.  There is no desire to build a pool, but not let it be used.  

The City of Cañon City formed a Pool Committee in February of 2026 to explore and evaluate potential funding options.  Following options presented by the Pool Committee, City Staff, and the Mayor, the Cañon City Council decided to no longer participate in the planning, financing, development, construction, operation, or maintenance of the proposed Recreation District pool project by a 4-2 vote.

The Recreation District Board of Directors at the June 9, 2026 meeting decided by a 3-2 vote to not construct the pool and go back to square one on replacing the Icabone Swimming Pool.  

At the June 15, 2026 City Council Meeting, the city asked for champions to come forward to present options on what to do with the collected tax funds and the future of the .3% sales tax.  In the weeks following, a group of citizens presented options for a modest seasonal pool by using the existing sales tax for both construction and operations.  After numerous meetings, both the District and City agreed to move forward with the option.

At a special meeting on August 24, 2026, the City and District agreed to an Intergovernmental Agreement on how to use the sales tax funds and the City placed the measure on the ballot.  Both entities also agreed not to increase taxes, only use the existing tax.  Now the voters will decide the future of the pool.  A yes vote means there is a pool, and a no vote means there is no pool.

Per the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Cañon City and the Recreation District approved Monday, August 24, 2026, the collected funds are sitting in an account with the City.  If the ballot measure passes on November 3, 2026, once the general obligation bonds are sold to construct a pool, the funds will be released to the Recreation District for the construction project.  If the measure fails in November 2026, the funds remain with the City, and the City Council will decide how to return them to the constituents.  The IGA governs all of this. See [link here] on this website for the content of the IGA.

Pools are extremely expensive facilities, which is why we must ask the community for support.  In 2014 the standard, outdoor, seasonal commercial public pool was being built for $180 to $200 per square foot.  In 2024 the cost was $480 per square foot for an outdoor facility. These costs are expected to nearly double in 10 years.  A pool facility requires a structure that can manage treated water.  This means decking, pool structure, liner or finish, filtration system, pipes, gutters, skimmers, boilers, upsized locker rooms from what existed at the Icabone Pool, and bathrooms for non-swimmers. Furthermore, existing codes must still be complied with including ADA, the Model Aquatic Health Code, State requirements, and local regulations. 

Also there are only a handful of companies in the United States which design commercial public pools.  This also drives the cost up.  We are not happy with the cost of public pools, but that does not mean the price is not correct.  These facilities will only get more expensive over time and their costs are rising faster than inflation.  The price of this proposed facility is in line with other projects around the state and country.   

In 2024 the Recreation District conducted a feasibility study for a pool replacement.  During this process we sought input on what the community wanted in a pool facility.  A year-round pool was preferred over a seasonal option.  It was more affordable to have an indoor/outdoor hybrid model, rather than a fully indoor facility.  A pool concept presented to the public included an indoor lap pool with recreational features and an outdoor leisure pool with a lazy river, play area splash features, zero entry, recreational features, a slide, and a spa.  There was an option for an additional two lap-lanes on the leisure pool if funding allowed.  The entire bath-house and mechanical rooms would be replaced, and a new parking lot on the front lawn of Cañon City High School added.  At the time, the price tag was $24.8 million and contingent on all three ballot measures passing in November of 2024.  However, the two capital construction measures passed, but the operations question failed.  Meaning we can build a new pool but not operate it.  The Board of Directors and City Council decided to plan for construction but not break ground while operational options could be explored.

In 2025, the District began planning for construction of the pool.  This included hiring an owner’s representative, Wember, an architecture firm, Barker Rinker Seacat, and a construction manager at risk, GH Phipps.  All parties agreed we would get to 50% Design Documents and go no further.  This way planning would have a head start, and we would not have to make as many changes due to cost escalation.  The concept of an outdoor/indoor pool remained, but changes were required to stay within the $24.8 million budget.  The lazy river was eliminated, the leisure pool shrunk a little, there would not be a two-lap addition to the leisure pool, the spa was removed, the slide became an add alternate, and the building reduced in size.  In the meantime, a ballot measure was submitted for the November 2025 election to address operations.  For a second consecutive year it was defeated.  The Cañon City Council decided at a meeting later that month with the District Board of Directors in attendance, the sales tax for pool construction would continue to be collected as operational funding options were explored.  No construction or additional planning would take place during this time. 

In 2026 the City Council formed a pool committee to investigate options for pool operations.  They would speak with other local government entities about dedicated funding, look for other revenue sources, and examine the current proforma.  On June 1, 2026 the City Council discussed these findings.  As for construction, the cost to build the facility continues to rise.  Cuts were already made to the proposed facility between 2024 and 2025 and with the two failed measures we are two years behind schedule.  Now the cost of building this facility would be beyond the planned budget as pool costs continue to rise.  For current examples, Fort Morgan is building an indoor facility, and the cost is $6 million higher than anticipated and Pueblo West is around $5 million higher than expected.  Both are still in the design phase, but cuts will have to be made.  Adams School District 12 is only refinishing their pool bottom and walls, and their cost is $3 million.  It is unlikely the Recreation District will be able to build what was presented to the voters in November of 2024 and 2025.  The concept will have to change, but the Board of Directors will seek feedback from the community first. 

No. The new plan is for a seasonal, modest pool, rather than a year-round recreation facility. The operational subsidy will come from a portion of the existing sales tax. The pool will operate for 3 or more months each year.  It will be less expensive to build and operate than the pool proposed in 2024. General obligation bonds for construction are capped at $16-$18 million. Remaining tax revenue will support operations, maintenance (the subsidy), and fund capital repairs and replacements. The current amount planned for construction of a modest pool is more expensive than Option 2 from 2024 because of inflation and rapidly rising construction costs. The Recreation District intends to manage the construction to be less than or match the $16-$18 million expenditure rather than find other or additional sources of funds.  No new taxes.

Pool construction costs are rising significantly each year, with conservative estimates ranging from 3% to 8% annually, with recent years trending higher. Costs are currently volatile and can change monthly, according to one general contractor. This is particularly true of construction costs where (for example) concrete costs have increased by 30-50% in the last 4 years. Some materials will be sourced domestically, while others will be imported. These trends are consistent with other commercial pool projects in Colorado.

The current sales tax will end in 2050, and available funds are fixed. However, construction costs continue to rise, so delaying the project will significantly increase the cost of construction as well as the costs of maintaining and operating a pool.

In 2024, voters authorized the Recreation District to sell general obligation bonds to fund the construction of the pool. These bonds will be sold on the open market and are considered safe investments by investors. Once sold, the Recreation District will have 23 years to repay them, typically through two payments per year, similar to a mortgage but with semiannual payments. For example, a $16–18 million bond at a 4.5% interest rate would require annual payments of close to $1.2 million per year, split into two $600,000 payments. The total payments are $27.6 million over 23 years in this example.  Final terms and  bond rates will be determined during the bond analysis period before the bonds are issued starting in 2027.

No, it is not a blank check. The Recreation District must comply with all TABOR regulations, just like the City or the County. TABOR prohibits unrestricted spending. Voters must authorize the 0.3% sales tax specifically for both pool construction and operations. The Recreation District must keep the budget within the generated revenue and the sales tax cannot change. Pool tax revenue cannot be used for the general funds of the Recreation District or City; it is restricted to pool use per TABOR. The Recreation District is also required to submit a balanced budget and undergo an annual independent audit, per state statute.

Standard commercial public pools are not, and never will be, 100% sustainable.  In the United States there are five publicly owned facilities that are profitable; but they are water parks, not a standard commercial public pool.  Two of them are in Colorado: Water World and Pirates Cove.  Public pools are a service.  They provide needed recreational opportunities to the citizens and their fee structure must meet the socioeconomics of their community.  The Recreation District subsidized the Icabone Pool around $50,000 every year by using both the general fund and Conservation Trust Fund (lottery) dollars.  In our region of the state, pools in Florence, Pueblo West, Pueblo, Woodland Park, Walsenburg, Trinidad, and Colorado Springs are subsidized by local government.  It is not uncommon for pools in communities the size of Cañon City or larger to cost over $200,000 in subsidy and, in communities smaller than Cañon City to cost around $90,000 to $100,000 in subsidy.  The days of annually subsidizing a public pool at $50,000, like we did in the past, are gone based on increases in labor, utilities, and chemicals.  To operate a commercial public pool, you must have the funding available to cover the shortfall.

The entire amount of pool operations is not being subsidized.  In fact, that has never been proposed.  Publicly owned pools are normally subsidized around 50%.  This means 50% of the operations are paid through the revenue generated at the pool, including open swim fees, pool passes, swim lessons, rentals, concessions, etc.  The remaining 50% is covered by a subsidy.  Public pools are a service and not designed to get to 100% cost recovery. Because it is a public facility, the goal is to charge affordable rates to meet the socioeconomic needs of the community. 

Subsidies are needed when the revenue generated through operations does not cover the cost to operate and maintain commercial public pools.  Locally, statewide, and nationally, pool facilities do not generate enough operating revenue to cover operating costs. For example, if annual operating costs are $470,000 and revenue is $200,000, the $270,000 shortfall is typically subsidized from some other source of funds. This operational subsidy supports operations, maintenance, and capital repairs, and is needed every year. Pools are a public service designed to be affordable for all community members. The revenue goal is to collect revenue while meeting community needs. Due to high operating and repair costs of pools, reliable sources of funding such as taxes for operational subsidy are essential each year.

Yes. The new modest pool will be able to host swim meets. The Piranhas Swim Team, active in our community for decades, competes from May through early August. To support the team and host meets, a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool with the appropriate, approved depth is required. The new lap pool will be designed to meet these standards and will also accommodate other swimming activities throughout the season.

The pool image on the Recreation District website is a conceptual design featuring two bodies of water and a slide, created during the 2024 feasibility study. This concept uses benchmarks from other projects to assess budget feasibility. If voters approve the measure in November 2026, we will begin the detailed design phase, including schematics, design, and construction documents. The construction contractor, architect, and engineer will collaborate to provide cost estimates and make necessary adjustments to stay within budget. A proforma will also be completed to ensure operational and maintenance costs, including capital repairs, remain within the community-approved budget.

The Icabone Swimming Pool, built in the 1960s, was an L-shaped pool that limited programming to one activity at a time, reducing community options. Activities like open swim, lap swim, lessons, and exercise classes had to be scheduled separately. Modern pool designs feature two bodies of water; a leisure pool and a lap pool, allowing multiple activities simultaneously. For example, the swim team can practice in the lap pool while the leisure pool remains open for general use. This design increases programming flexibility, better serves the community, and improves cost recovery because of increases in operating revenue.

Grants for public pool construction and operations are very limited.  The Recreation District has looked at Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Grants for the facility.  We are limited to a $2 million request and traditionally if they support a pool it is at a level under $1 million.  That is not even 6% of the project budget.  We applied for a Land Water Conservation Fund Grant through Colorado Parks and Wildlife and were denied in large part because the community did not fund the operations of the facility.  This grant is funded federally through the National Parks Service and unfortunately those funds are no longer available.  Those are just two examples.  We have explored numerous grants and none of them support capital construction or operations of community pools.  This includes El Pomar Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, USDA, and Bill and Melida Gates Foundation just to name a few. There simply are not many options available when it comes to grant funding for commercial public swimming pools.  We are also not the only community looking for these grants.

Each year, the Recreation District subsidized the R.C. Icabone Swimming Pool, with amounts varying based on facility needs. Subsidies exceeded $100,000 in years with major maintenance but typically ranged from $40,000 to $50,000. Funding came from the General Fund (property tax revenue) and Conservation Trust Funds (CTF) from Colorado Lottery proceeds. Additional revenue from pool activities, such as open swim, lessons, concessions, rentals, and swim team events, generated $70,000 to $80,000 annually.

While the pool was closed, the Recreation District used funds typically allocated for pool subsidies to pay for feasibility studies, design, and surveys, ensuring the money continued to be used for pool-related needs. These efforts were necessary to evaluate replacement options for the public. If a new facility is built, the Recreation District plans to maintain a similar subsidy level. However, operating costs continue to rise due to increasing salaries, chemical prices, and utility expenses.

In 2022, the final year of the R.C. Icabone pool operations, the Recreation District provided a $50,000 subsidy: $30,000 from the General Fund and $20,000 from the Conservation Trust Fund.  In 2023, although start-up expenses were incurred, the pool could not open due to mechanical failure and resulting code issues, so no revenue was generated. Pool funds were also used for a site audit by Counsilman-Hunsaker. No funds were saved in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, funds intended for pool operations were redirected to the feasibility study and design work, so again, no savings were realized.

Currently, the District has a pool fund balance of $ 104,885.13 as of July 31, 2026.  

The City of Florence has effectively maintained its public pool.  One of the reasons is a dedicated funding source. In 2005, facing high repair and operating costs for the aging facility, Florence decided to close the pool. Citizens then proposed a solution: if a tax was passed, the pool would be repaired and remain open. In November 2005, Florence approved a 0.5% sales tax for pool operations and repairs. While the initial goal was to build a new pool, insufficient tax revenue meant the City used the funds for repairs and upgrades. The sales tax also provided an annual operational subsidy, with unused funds placed in reserve. Since the tax has sunset, the City has relied on reserves, but available funds are decreasing, and future solutions will be needed.

Also, unlike Florence, the Recreation District has not succeeded in passing an operational tax to address pool needs. Six months after Florence’s 2005 election, the Recreation District attempted a property tax increase for the Icabone Pool, but voters rejected it. The Recreation District maintained pool operations through the 2022 season using its existing budget.

The Icabone pool cannot be reopened due to a combination of code and engineering issues that are cost prohibitive.  Codes or standards exist today that did not exist 50+ years ago.  Lap pool depths are an example - deeper water is required where swim turns happen at the end of a lane. Unfortunately, the Icabone pool sits on expansive clay soils that put immense pressure on concrete and structural materials.  In fact, Icabone started experiencing cracking issues shortly after opening and they plagued the pool during its 56 years of operations.  A fiberglass liner was installed, but eventually this failed too and yearly patching and repairs were necessary.  Fortunately, there are good solutions for the replacement pool build due to advances in engineering over the last 50+ years. As an example, the high school recently underwent an extensive addition, and the same soil conditions were found there and mitigated. 

This is a common question, as the two entities are often confused. The City is a municipality, while the Recreation District is a Title 32 Special District. Both have elected representatives and must comply with statutory requirements such as TABOR. The City provides services such as water, roads, building inspections, law enforcement, and parks, including Centennial, Veterans, and Red Canyon. However, the City does not offer recreation services (such as youth baseball) or operate a pool. The Recreation District focuses on parks and recreation services, including programs, parks, trails, and open spaces. Both entities partner on the Arkansas Riverwalk Trail system.

Yes, schools, first responders, and roads are essential services to any community; however, some do not think about parks and recreation as an essential service.  A phrase which applies here is, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”  In 2010, Colorado Springs made the choice to cut their Parks and Recreation Department by 85%.  Parks, trails, pavilions, and playgrounds were not maintained, some programs were eliminated, and many staff members were let go.  It did not take long for the community to get upset because the facilities they enjoyed using were no longer maintained.  Not only did the citizens of Colorado Springs learn the value of recreation, but so did their government.  People complained about an increase in crime and the fact they no longer wanted to use facilities in disrepair.  Fast forward to now and not only did Colorado Springs reinstate the budget for parks and recreation but have continued to look for ways to invest in additional parks, trails, facilities and programs.  “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” is a lesson the community learned and now they continue to invest in recreation because it is an essential service.

Parks and recreation are taken for granted in many communities.  The question is not, is recreation a luxury; rather, do you want to live in a community without parks, trails, open spaces, and programs?  Imagine Cañon City with no parks, trails, playgrounds, courts, open spaces, and no adult or youth programs.  Is that a community you would want to live in?  Parks and recreation improve the quality of life in our community 365 days a year.  You can go for a walk on the beautiful Riverwalk, take your dog to the dog park, use the archery range, take your kids to a playground, have a family gathering at one of the many pavilions, participate in one of many sports programs, or attend one of our special events.  There is tremendous value in that. 

Recreation is not a luxury; it is an essential service.

The YMCA has extensive requirements before establishing a presence in a community.

1.      For a YMCA to come to Cañon City, taxpayers must fund the entire capital construction cost of the pool and related facilities.

2.      The YMCA charges management and operational fees, which taxpayers pay.

3.      If the YMCA does not generate enough income to cover its annual budget, taxpayers are responsible for the shortfall. For example, if the YMCA operates on a $500,000 budget but only generates $250,000 in revenue, the Recreation District would have to pay the remaining $250,000. Since pools typically operate at a deficit, the Recreation District would need to find additional funding to cover these costs.

4.      The YMCA retains all revenue generated, with none returned directly to the community.  The revenues generated by the facility DO NOT offset the operational and maintenance costs.

5.      Additional facts about YMCA and funding.

            a.       To balance their budgets in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the YMCA receives subsidies from both the municipalities and the counties. For example, the City of Colorado Springs provides $800,000 annually in maintenance services to the Pikes Peak YMCA to keep five pools operational.

            b.      The YMCA manages programming, staffing, and daily operations, while the City covers maintenance, liability, and utilities.

            c.       The YMCA is a fee-based organization (i.e. membership fees), and its recreation centers and pools are often more expensive than those operated by municipalities or districts. As a result, taxpayers may pay both for the facility and membership fees.

            d.      YMCA-operated pools in Colorado Springs charge twice the admission cost of publicly owned (municipal) facilities in Pueblo and Florence.

            e.       If the YMCA believed it could operate in Cañon City, it would already be present. The organization was approached, and discussions took place in 1999, 2009, and 2016/2017.

             f.        The YMCA in Pueblo was unable to sustain seasonal pool operations and returned management to the City of Pueblo.