Feasibility Study (2023-2024)

When the R.C. Icabone Pool closed in 2023 after 56 years of use, the Recreation District, the City of Cañon City, and the School District came together to ask: What comes next?

A professional feasibility study explored the options: repairing the old pool, building a new seasonal outdoor pool, or creating a year-round facility.

Community Input Highlights

• 8,200+ unique visitors to the study website

• 1,000+ registered voters participated in a scientific survey (Magellan Strategies)

• 70 local residents in balanced stakeholder groups representing different viewpoints

• 350 people attended public presentations

• 12-member citizen committee helped review data and speak for the community

• 200,000+ social media impressions and 800 comments across platforms

The feedback was clear: the community overwhelmingly supported replacing Icabone with a year-round pool that could serve children, families, seniors, and athletes.

Schematic Design (2024-2025)

With community direction in hand, architects developed early layouts (called schematic design) to explore pool size, location, and features.

Public workshops allowed residents to weigh in on priorities like swim lessons, lap swimming, senior programs, high school swim teams, and recreational play features. This stage confirmed the community’s desire for a modern but practical facility; not a water park, but a pool designed for daily life in Cañon City.

Design Development (2025)

The project is advancing to design development, where details are being refined:

• Bodies of water: one indoor 6-lane lap pool, one outdoor leisure pool, and, if it fits within the budget, an additional warm water indoor program pool

• Modern bathhouses, locker rooms, and mechanical systems

• Features like zero-entry access, lap lanes, diving boards, and family play areas

This stage will continue until it reaches 50% completion. On November 4, the voters will decide whether to support the excise tax for operations. A YES on 2B means the project will continue through the end of design development, and move on to construction drawings and final construction, with an anticipated completion of Fall 2027. If 2B fails, the project will not move forward. There are opportunities for residents to learn about the taxing measure and support this project. See how you can get involved.