First capital fundraising campaign in Town of Carbondale history surpasses $2 million

The cost of the new Carbondale Aquatics Center, set to open in April 2026, skyrocketed after it was first proposed in 2019. 

When the project was initially approved in 2019, the first municipal pool in Colorado to be heated by 100% renewable energy, had a projected cost that exceeded $7 million. In the seven years following, external forces like the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising construction costs have nearly doubled the price of the state-of-the-art pool. 

After the “Let’s Make a Splash” fundraiser concluded on Dec. 31, the campaign announced the Town of Carbondale secured the funding needed to complete the new $13.4 million Carbondale Aquatic Center without raising taxes. 

“We had a mountain to climb, and we did it,” Carbondale’s Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger said in a release. “Thanks to the support of more than 500 dedicated community members, we’re able to build the pool as promised. This project shows what’s possible when a community comes together around something that matters.”

According to the release, the $13.4 million was comprised of over $9 million in bonds and interest, $2.3 million from the Town of Carbondale reserve funds and $2.1 from the “Let’s Make a Splash” campaign. 

For volunteer cabinet chair Kathleen Wanatowicz, the most rewarding part of the campaign was watching the community unite around the project.

“This truly was a community effort,” she said in the release. “From the volunteer campaign cabinet that contributed hundreds of hours over the past eighteen months to everyone who wrote a check, this campaign reflects Carbondale’s deep commitment to continuing its aquatics legacy.”

Wanatowicz said it was meaningful to see donations of all sizes being put to good use. 

“What’s really notable is that we had over 500 individual contributors to the campaign, some of which were $20 donations, and some were $50,000,” Wanatowicz said. “People really loved the idea of supporting a community facility and a capital campaign.

“The number of people who contributed was very significant for a small town,” she continued. “Every donation was really meaningful and purposeful. What’s really exciting is that the facility itself serves such a diverse population. This facility means something for all ages.”

When it opens in the spring, the design of the new Aquatic Center — located on the corner of Seventh and Main Street in Carbondale — will serve as a new community gathering spot and economic driver, while leapfrogging the town’s 40-year old pool into a new era and aligning with Carbondale’s long-term energy and climate goals.

The all-electric facility will be powered by 100% renewable energy and will not use natural gas. The previous single L-shaped pool will be replaced with two separate bodies of water: a 12-foot, six-lane Olympic-size lap pool with a diving board and climbing wall, and a leisure pool with a zero-depth entry, a maximum depth of 5 feet, a volleyball net and splash features. The hot tub previously located along Main Street will be relocated across the property near Seventh Street.

The former gray brick building has also been remodeled into a 2,700 square-foot building with changing rooms, offices, storage and support spaces, a modern bathhouse and will be completely ADA accessible. 

An official opening date had not been announced as of Thursday afternoon, though Wanatowicz said the grand opening will be a communitywide celebration.

“We will be having a very large celebration,” she said. “Both for thanking and appreciating the donors, but also celebrating all the new swimmers and families that will come together at the new pool.”