Albuquerque city officials plan to construct an aquatic center at North Domingo Baca Park as envisioned in a 2005 master development plan.
Mayor Tim Keller (D), Councilor Brook Bassan (R) and the Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department announced that the city's long-awaited aquatics project is moving forward in a news release last month.
"After nearly 20 years of promises to residents," Keller tweeted Aug. 26, "we are excited to be delivering on this project — bringing a new aquatic center to [the] east side of the city as well as a splash pad for families to enjoy!"
The North Domingo Baca Park Master Development Plan document, dated Feb. 3, 2005, recommended the development of an aquatics complex "similar to the one developed adjacent to West Mesa High School." Now the city has four conceptual designs for adding an aquatic center to North Domingo Baca Park, which is estimated to cost between $12 million to $31 million, according to project documents.
"Between the City Council, the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and now Albuquerque Public Schools," Bassan said in a statement, "I believe we will obtain final funding for this project much sooner than initially anticipated. This long-awaited project will fill a need gap and achieve aquatic equity for every youth, senior, family and athlete."
With the November election approaching, Bassan said she encourages voters to support $3 million in city bonds and $2 million in school bonds to help finance construction of this proposed aquatic center. The city has already set aside about $7 million for the project, which could undergo construction beginning in 2023, KRQE reported.