North Domingo Baca Park - Aquatics Phase
Updates on the development, planning, design, and construction of the aquatic center at North Domingo Baca Park.
North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center
The City of Albuquerque is constructing a new, state-of-the-art aquatic center at North Domingo Baca Park, 7401 Carmel Ave. NE. The facility will provide year-round aquatic opportunities for Albuquerque residents while creating a premier venue for competitive swimming, diving, training, recreation, water safety and community programming.
The North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center is the final major component of the North Domingo Baca Park Master Plan and is being developed through a partnership between the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and Department of Municipal Development.
About the Aquatic Center
At the heart of the new facility will be an 8-lane, 60-meter competition pool designed to accommodate recreational, instructional and competitive aquatics.
The additional pool length allows the facility to provide a shallow-water area while maintaining a full 50-meter competition course with a minimum depth of 8 feet. The competition pool’s flexible design will support 50-meter, 25-meter and 25-yard configurations, allowing the facility to accommodate a variety of programs and events.
The 8-foot minimum depth of the 50-meter competition course is designed for optimal racing conditions, making it one of the fastest competition pools in the Mountain West.
The competition pool will also feature movable bulkheads, starting platforms, one-meter and three-meter diving, and water polo capabilities.
A separate four-lane, 25-yard warm-up and training pool will provide additional space for swim instruction, training, fitness classes, warm-up and cool-down activities, and other aquatic programming.
Facility Features
The indoor aquatic center is designed to serve everyday community use while also providing the amenities needed to host competitive aquatic events.
Planned features include:
- 60-meter competition pool, Eight (8)-50 Meter lanes or twenty-two (22)-25 Yard lanes
- Full 50-meter competition course
- Multiple 25-meter and 25-yard competition configurations
- Shallow-water programming area
- One-meter and three-meter diving
- Movable bulkheads for flexible pool configurations
- Water polo capabilities
- Four-lane, 25-yard warm-up and training pool
- Spectator seating for approximately 850
- Additional team and participant seating
- Men’s and women’s locker and shower facilities
- Family and individual changing facilities
- Dry-land training space
- Lifeguard, officials and administrative areas
- Pool storage and dedicated aquatic mechanical systems
The facility also includes a two-story spectator area overlooking the competition pool, with additional restrooms and support spaces designed to accommodate larger events.
Project Status
Construction is underway.
The project has made substantial progress throughout 2026, moving from foundations, underground utilities, masonry and concrete work into major vertical construction.
Recent construction activities have included structural steel, interior masonry and framing, mechanical and plumbing systems, ductwork, decking, spectator seating and other major building components.
The current phase continues to advance the indoor natatorium and building enclosure. Additional 2026 funding is supporting exterior wall systems, natatorium skylights, interior framing, plumbing and HVAC rough-in, permanent electrical infrastructure and other work necessary to move the facility toward completion.
Current Phase: Construction
Current Projected Project Cost (Indoor Only): Approximately $75 million
Additional Indoor Funding Need: Approximately $20 million
Future Outdoor Aquatic Phase: Approximately $20 million
Current Phase Construction Contractor: Bradbury Stamm Construction
City Project Manager: Stacy Herrera
Project Funding
The North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center represents a significant investment by the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico.
Funding for the project has been assembled over multiple years through a combination of City capital funding, General Obligation Bonds, Gross Receipts Tax funding, APS Bond Funds, and State of New Mexico capital outlay appropriations.
As additional funding has become available, the City has continued to advance additional portions of the aquatic center. Recent funding is allowing construction to continue on major portions of the indoor facility and its supporting building systems.
Approximately $20 million in additional funding is currently needed to complete the remaining indoor facility and prepare it for public use. This includes remaining HVAC and electrical systems, facility and aquatic equipment, furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), and other work required to make the aquatic center fully operational.
The current construction scope does not represent completion of the entire facility. Project documents specifically recognize that additional funding will be required before the aquatic center is ready for its intended public use.
What’s Next: Future Project Phases
Construction will continue as currently funded work progresses and additional funding is secured.
Future phases will focus on completing the remaining systems and improvements necessary to transition the indoor aquatic center from a building under construction to a fully operational public facility.
Future work is anticipated to include completion of remaining HVAC and electrical systems, aquatic and facility equipment, furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), final interior improvements, commissioning and operational readiness.
Because additional funding is still needed to complete the indoor facility, a public opening date has not yet been established. The City will provide updated schedule and opening information as future phases are funded and completed.
Future Outdoor Aquatic Complex
The long-term vision for the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center also includes a future outdoor aquatic complex immediately north of the indoor facility.
The planned outdoor area includes a beach-entry recreational pool, a separate water-slide landing pool serving two water slides, and a four-lane outdoor lap pool. Plans also include shade canopies, landscaped terraces, an outdoor plaza and a dedicated support building with changing rooms, showers, restrooms and a seasonal check-in and ticketing area.
The future outdoor aquatic phase is currently projected to require approximately $20 million in additional funding and will move forward as funding becomes available.
Looking Toward Opening
The City of Albuquerque remains committed to completing the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center and bringing this significant community investment into public use.
As construction progresses, the City will continue pursuing funding to complete the remaining indoor facility improvements and prepare the aquatic center for operation.
Additional information regarding the anticipated opening date, aquatic programs, operating hours, competitive events and public access will be provided as the project approaches completion.
Aquatic Center Renderings
Project Documents:
Upcoming events:
Project News:
Press Release: Diving into Construction at North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center
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