North Domingo Baca pool construction faces funding hurdles

After nearly two decades of waiting, Northeast Albuquerque residents may need to hold on a bit longer for the long-promised North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center.

The project, originally announced in 2005, remains in its early stages as the city grapples with funding challenges and rising costs.

“The North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center has not quite begun Phase 1,” said City Councilor Brook Bassan, who represents the area. “We’re still waiting on getting full funding so that we can begin it, and that would be for the natatorium.”

The planned facility will include a 60-meter indoor pool and an outdoor pool, but the focus remains on the interior pool, which has long been the community’s top priority.

“The indoor natatorium is what is being prioritized and what we are working to get full funding to begin and finish,” Bassan said.

The project currently faces a $19 million funding gap. While the contract with Bradbury Stamm Construction for the base infrastructure has been finalized, the contract for the natatorium cannot proceed until full funding is secured. According to Bassan, the city is pursuing additional funding through various avenues, including state capital outlay, general obligation bonds and potential contributions from Bernalillo County.

One of the most pressing challenges, according to Bassan, is inflation. “Inflation is what is our number one challenge,” she said.

The timeline for the completion of the indoor pool remains uncertain.

“I don’t feel like I can give an end date because we haven’t begun the actual first phase,” Bassan said, adding that once funding is secured and the contract for the natatorium is finalized, construction would take around 18 months.

Emily Moore, the marketing and communications director for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said Phase 1 construction is “expected to be complete between late 2025 and early 2026, and the timeline for indoor pools depends on securing additional funding.”

While the city continues to work toward funding solutions, the wait for the long-promised aquatic center goes on.

“I think that it’s fair to say we’re all frustrated with some of the delays,” Bassan said. “That’s why I remain committed to ensuring that we try to get as much funding as fast as possible so that we can end this game with inflation and actually build something that the people of Albuquerque have wanted to see for over 20 years.”