The R.C. Icabone pool closed in 2023 after providing decades of outdoor summer fun .

When the pool opened in 1966 it was expected to last 25 to 30 years. With year after year of dedicated work and maintenance, it operated for 56 years.  Pool audits conducted  by the Recreation District in 2018 and 2023 showed that the pool was at the end of its lifespan.  Although Recreation District staff tried to open the pool in 2023, its multiple structural and mechanical issues could no longer be overcome, and the Recreation District Board made the difficult decision to close the facility.

In 2024, through a citizen led effort, the Recreation District and the City of Cañon City engaged in a feasibility study to replace the R.C. Icabone pool.  The study was conducted by Counsilman-Hunsaker (pool experts), OLC (an architecture firm) and Ballard*King (market analyzers) who worked with a pool committee whose members represented a broad spectrum of the community.   Committee members included representatives from the Recreation District, the City of Cañon City, the Cañon City School District, Citizens for a Pool, the Golden Age Center and a former County Commissioner.  The study process involved numerous stakeholder and public meetings, surveys, and a dedicated website.  

Through this effort and the collaboration of the following local government entities - the Recreation District, the City of Cañon City and the Cañon City School District, a year-round pool facility concept was developed for the site of the original Icabone Pool.  The Colorado Sun published an article about the efforts to bring a pool back to our community, you can read the story here.  The Cañon City Daily Record also published a story about the public meeting held on September 25th, you can read the story here.

On the 2024 November ballot, the Recreation District and the City asked the voters to consider three questions to  construct a replacement for the Icabone pool and operate it.  The voters passed the two questions, 2A and 6B, to fund the capital construction of the pool.  The voters rejected question 6A to fund the operations of the proposed facility.  This means the voters have authorized the construction of a pool, but no funding to operate it.  You may click on Election History to get more information.

The Recreation District and City went back to the voters on the November 2025 ballot to address operational funding.  After evaluating multiple options, the two entities decided to put forth a 2.25% Excise Tax to pay for operations.  This measure would have applied an excise tax on the fees, charges and ticket sales for amusement or scenic rides, attractions, and recreational excursion in City limits.  The voters said no to this tax by 9.32% at the ballot box.  Operational funding for the pool has still not been secured.

The Cañon City Council and Recreation District Board of Directors met on November 11, 2025 to discuss operational funding and if the sales tax should continue to be collected.  At that time it was decided the tax would still be collected while other operational funding options were explored.  In February of 2026 the City Council formed a Pool Committee to explore funding options within the City budget and outside revenue sources.  The Recreation District Board of Directors has stated on numerous occassions there are no funding levers left to pull within the District budget and they will need help from other sources.  

On June 1, 2026 City Council was presented with options for operational funding by city staff.  At this meeting they made the decision to no longer participate in the planning, financing, development, construction, operation, or maintenance of the proposed recreation district pool project.  The City will cease committing addtional financial resources, staff time, contractual obligations, or public assets toward the project, except as necessary to fulfill any existing legal obligations.  The decision on construction now belongs with the Receation District.

On June 9, 2026 the Recreation District Board of Directors met to discuss capital construction of the pool.  There is not enough funding within the existing budget of the District for operations, the City decided not to participate in operational funding, and the voters twice have rejected operational funding.  The Board decided by a vote of 3-2 to not construct a pool and recommend to City Council the .3% sales tax no longer be collected.  It will be a decision by the City Council to determine what happens next with the tax.  

The Board of Directors will revisit the pool issue at some point in the future.

Boundary Map of the City of Cañon City (black line) and Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District (purple line)