News & History
CABQ 2 AUG 2024 Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emily Moore | 505-382-8721
August 2, 2024
Construction Update at North Domingo Baca Park
Aquatic Center and tennis court resurfacing underway
ALBUQUERQUE – The City is providing an update on construction at North Domingo Baca Park. Crews mobilized this week to begin the next stage of construction for the Aquatic Center and the tennis courts are being resurfaced.
The City awarded Bradbury Stamm the contract for this stage of the Aquatic Center, which includes building the facility’s pump room, access road, and storm drainage as well as power, sewer, and water. This work is adding the necessary infrastructure for the natatorium, or indoor pool. Crews began this week and are expected to wrap up this portion of the project in September 2025. This part of the project is $12.7 million.
The overall plan calls for a 50-meter indoor Olympic competition pool, diving pool, heated 25-yard warmup pool, recreational play area with two slides, and seating for about 700 spectators. The Parks & Recreation Department will manage the facility, which was designed by architecture firm Huitt-Zollars. The Department of Municipal Development is the project manager for the construction. Crews have already completed construction on a $5.3 million portion of the project, which included a large retaining wall and extensive site grading.
The entire North Domingo Baca Park tennis complex, which includes six tennis courts, is being resurfaced. The courts will be temporarily closed for the next 2 – 3 weeks. Closing all six courts simultaneously will permit the contractor to work efficiently and allow the courts to cure properly. This is the first time the NDB courts are being resurfaced since they were built in 2014.
The courts have worn down from regular use. The resurfacing process includes cleaning the courts, repairing cracks, and applying a new playing surface.
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About CABQ Parks & Recreation: The Parks and Recreation Department maintains nearly 300 parks, 150 miles of multi-use trails, more than 30,000 acres of Major Public Open Space, four municipal golf courses, 12 pools, and numerous recreation facilities throughout Albuquerque, including Balloon Fiesta Park. Hundreds of employees across six divisions within the Department take pride in ensuring Albuquerque residents have great facilities and programs that support quality-of-life, foster a healthy community, and strengthen the local economy.
PROJECT UPDATES
As of July 31, 2023, the RFPs for this project still have NOT been sent out and the September ground-breaking is in jeopardy. This project is hung up on a CABQ decision-makers desk. This is costing the City and State approximately $200,000 for every month they delay this project.
Final construction documents have been developed for RFP ('Request For Proposals' from construction companies) release with a target breaking ground NLT September.
Albuquerque Environmental Review Committee approved the project 9-0 on 20 April
LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE
August 15, 2023 (KOB News): North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center: When could we see progress?
August 6, 2023 (Albuquerque Journal): Forget the Rail Trail and soccer stadium. What about the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center?
October 28, 2021: Albuquerque Journal Letter to the Editor (see above)
October 12, 2021: Journal Endorses City's Parks & Recreation G.O. Bonds
September 6, 2021: After Nearly 20 Years of Promises...
August 31, 2021: North Domingo Baca Park - Aquatics Phase
August 29, 2021: NE Heights Getting New Aquatic Center
August 28, 2021: New Water Sports Center Planned for NE Albuquerque Park
August 28, 2021: New Aquatic Center Planned for NE ABQ Park
August 26, 2021: City Pushes Forward Aquatic Center Plans at NDB Park
August 26, 2021: Mayor Keller's Press Conference on the Aquatic Center
August 26, 2021: City Pushes Forward Aquatic Center Plans
August 2021: City is Beginning to Plan (Not Deliver) East Side Aquatic Center
June 7, 2021: Albuquerque city council to finalize projects for upcoming bond election
May 21, 2021: Neighbors organize to push for long-awaited North Domingo Baca Park pool
February 19, 2020: Millions still needed for Aquatic Center at North Domingo Baca Park
January 4, 2020: City council newcomer (Brook Bassan) talks challenges ahead
December 13, 2019: Councilor Brad Winter reflects on 20 years with Albuquerque City Council
WHY SWIMMING MATTERS TO A COMMUNITY
OLYMPIC HOPEFULS & CHAMPIONS
RECENT & PAST
Anika Apostalon 2021 News article about Anika, an Albuquerque Academy graduate, who is now an Olympic hopeful for the 2021 Toyko Games.
Cathy Carr started training when she was under 12 years old at the privately-owned, outdoor Acapulco Swim Pool. She competed in the ABQ branch of Amateur Athletic Union’s (AAU) Age Group Swimming Category: “12 yrs. & Under”. She became a member of the Acapulco Swim Club Team beginning about 1959.
The Girls & Boys Swim Team practiced 2-times a day, except Saturdays and Sundays, at the Acapulco Swim Pool. The pool is still located in ABQ’s South East Heights near the Air Force Base and International Airport. Today, the Acapulco Swim Pool belongs to the City of ABQ. It’s called the Sunport Public Pool.
Jimmy Stevens was the Acapulco Swim Club Team’s coach. Coach Stevens and his team won many ABQ city championships over the summers. Cathy Carr went on to win Olympic Gold Medals in her Breaststroke events. Read about Cathy’s swimming history HERE.
It's time for Albuquerque to make this possible for more of Albuquerque's competitive swimmers.
This North Domingo Baca Park (NDBP) Master Plan was developed with strong North ABQ neighborhood participation and support prior to 2005. In 2005, the NDBP Master Plan was adopted and signed by the parties and City of ABQ. On page 13 of the Master Plan, there is a stipulation which was agreed to by the parties in 2005. That stipulation is the NDBP pool will be built on 6 acres, and that the pool will be similar to the West Mesa Olympic Pool.