We tasked the pool design team of Barker Rinker Seacat, Counsilman-Hunsaker, GH Phipps, and Wember to provide the Recreation District with a Fit Test for a seasonl pool on the site of the Icabone Swimming Pool.  A Fit Test is very high level and does not have as much detail as even a concept diagram in a feasibility study.  Using the Recreation District's 2024 Feasibility Study and the design team's recent projects as a guide,  a sample design and  estimated construction budget was developed.  It should be mentioned all of this work was done pro bono by these companies.  We asked our team the following questions:

1) Will a seasonal pool facility fit on the existing site of the R.C. Icabone Swimming Pool (west side of 12th Street)?

2) Can we minimize the use of school district land for parking on the east side of 12th Street?

3) Can we get the construction budget within $16 to $18 million?

4) Can we be swimming by the summer of 2028?

After reviewing simiilar projects in Eagle, Rifle, Carbondale, and Fort Morgan, the pool design team found an updated, outdoor  pool design would fit on the land which housed the Icabone Swimming Pool.  It could include two bodies of water, a slide, and some parking.  It would not require 12th Street to be closed.  Please note, the concept shown is for a Fit Test and not what the pool will look like.  It serves as a baseline, along with the 2024 Feasibility Study image, to design a pool for Cañon City.  

The design team also found in the Fit Test that parking could potentially be spread out to minimize the impact on the school district property at Cañon City High School.  Land would still be need, but much less than what was proposed in 2024 and 2025.  Again, this is just a concept and very high level.  

One of the big questions was about the cost to build the facility.  Based on the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Cañon City, we are limited to $18 million in general obligation bonds.  If the pool construction went over that amount, it would have to come from grants or private donations.  To be conservative our target was $16-$18 million.  GH Phipps' pre-construction team used other projects to see what was possible, and in this case used their current construction project in Fort Morgan, CO.  To be conservative they factored in $1.8 million for contingency and an additional $1.2 million for inflation due to the volitility in the construction market.  Below is a sample budget for a facility with a smaller building.  When reviewing this estimated budget, please note this is intentionally high to provide wiggle room within the budget. 

The entire pool design team believes we are within striking distance of delivering a facility similar to this in Cañon City.  As the design phase moves forward adjustments will be made to adjust the cost of the project.  This is simply a starting point.  

FIT TEST BUDGET 

Again, this is a very high level budget and will change during the design process as a lot of assumptions were made.  This is a great starting point and the pool design team believes we will be able to hit the $18 million IGA cap. 

Just to provide some examples of recent projects in communities smaller than Cañon City, here are photos of other Colorado pools in Carbondale, Eagle, and Rifle.  All three are seasonal facilities with two bodies of water and a slide.  Carbondale added a spa with their pool.  In all three locations, the pools were originally "L-shaped" pools constructed in the 60's, similar to the Icabone Pool, and changed to a more modern design to serve their growing community.  All three facilities have experienced an increase in use and an increase in programming options, which has improved their overall revenue.