Help Build Douglas County's
First 50-Meter
Aquatic Center
Colorado Aquatics Foundation is raising $3.2 million by October 31, 2026 to advance the Colorado Aquatic Center within the current Zebulon development window. Phase 1 moves steel acquisition, design and permitting forward.
Colorado Aquatics Foundation, Inc. · A Colorado 501(c)(3), est. 2023
CAF Leads Development of the Aquatic Center at Zebulon
Douglas County has named Colorado Aquatics Foundation as its aquatics development partner for the Zebulon Regional Sports Complex. CAF is independently developing and fundraising for the Colorado Aquatic Center as the aquatic component envisioned for the broader complex.
The main Zebulon building is funded and moving forward. Funding for the Colorado Aquatic Center is outside that scope of work and must be raised independently by Colorado Aquatics Foundation.
View on Douglas County's Zebulon site →Project at a Glance
Colorado Aquatics Foundation
Independently developing, funding and planning the Colorado Aquatic Center.
Zebulon Regional Sports Complex
Planned as the aquatic component of the proposed complex in Douglas County.
35,000+ sq. ft.
Anchored by a 50-meter competition pool and a 25-yard instructional pool.
Aquatics Development Partner
Douglas County has named CAF as its aquatics development partner for Zebulon.
In Development
CAF is actively advancing facility planning, operating-model research, community engagement, preconstruction coordination, partnerships and fundraising.
Shared Pools, Growing Demand
Where Demand Meets Limited Access
- Many USA Swimming club facilities and summer league pools across the metro area fall within the regional draw of this site.
- Those same pools are doing heavy lifting for their communities, serving clubs, school teams, lessons and everyday uses like lap swim, therapy and family recreation. Because so many programs share the same water, lane space, practice times and meet schedules are often shaped by availability rather than community need.
- For families who need true 50 meter training, there is still no public long-course pool in the south metro, so they must travel to a handful of distant facilities.
The Colorado Aquatic Center gives those communities room to breathe, so clubs, schools, lessons, and public programs can grow side by side.
"For many Denver families, swim lessons are not easy to access. Programs fill up fast, and some families wait months for an opening."
50 Meters and 25 Yards
The Colorado Aquatic Center is planned as its own wing of the Zebulon building, with opportunities to share walls, support spaces and mechanical infrastructure with the broader facility. A 50-meter competition pool anchors the planned natatorium, with a separate 25-yard program pool alongside it.
Subject to change pending design, engineering, and Douglas County review.
Integrated Design, Greater Efficiency
Coordinated design creates opportunities to share walls, support spaces and mechanical infrastructure with the broader building, which may reduce costs compared with a standalone addition. Final systems and any savings depend on completed design, engineering and procurement.
The 25-Yard Pool
Reference photo: Idaho Central Aquatic Center, Boise, ID. Not the Colorado Aquatic Center.
For a child learning to swim. A parent looking for a safer start. An older adult rebuilding strength. A family simply looking for a place in the water. This is the everyday side of the Colorado Aquatic Center.
The 50-Meter Pool
Photo: IU Indianapolis Natatorium, photographed by Colorado Aquatics Foundation during facility research. Shown as a 50-meter facility reference.
A home where swimmers can train long course without leaving the county. Where school teams can compete. Where water polo, diving and major meets have room to grow. And where a young swimmer can look down 50 meters of water and imagine what's possible.
A Place for All of Us.
This isn't just about building another pool.
It's about the child learning to swim. The athlete chasing a goal. The family looking for a place to belong. The adult returning to the water. The first responder preparing for the moment someone needs them.
Different reasons for walking through the doors. One place built to make room for all of them.
That's the Colorado Aquatic Center we're working to build.
Why This Construction Window Matters
Because the broader Zebulon project is funded and moving forward, with vertical construction currently anticipated around March 2027, advancing Aquatic Center design, permitting and structural-material planning during the same development window creates opportunities for coordination that may not exist later. CAF is targeting $3.2 million by October 31, 2026 so that work can advance in time to pursue coordination with the broader construction window.
Advance With the Broader Project
Moving Phase 1 forward now gives CAF the opportunity to coordinate Aquatic Center design, permitting, procurement and construction sequencing with the broader Zebulon project rather than approaching the facility later as a standalone addition.
Preserve Integration Opportunities
Advancing during the current development window creates opportunities to coordinate structural materials, shared infrastructure and mechanical planning with the broader building. Final systems and savings will depend on completed design, engineering and procurement.
Reduce the Risk of Paying More Later
Waiting could require separate mobilization, staging, redesign or retrofits, and separate design and mechanical planning could reduce opportunities to share infrastructure with the broader building. Later structural-material purchases could also lose coordinated procurement and leave the Aquatic Center more exposed to future pricing and inflation. Moving now gives CAF the best opportunity to evaluate and capture efficiencies while coordinated planning remains possible.
Site Work Is Underway at Zebulon
Earthmovers are shaping the Zebulon campus where the Colorado Aquatic Center is planned. This is Zebulon campus site work: construction of the Colorado Aquatic Center itself has not yet begun and depends on CAF independently advancing its funding, design and permitting.
Shaping the ground where the aquatic center will rise
Grading across the 50-acre complex
Zebulon is moving forward. CAF's Phase 1 campaign is intended to position the independently funded Aquatic Center to advance during the same development and construction window.
What Phase 1 Funding Moves Forward
Phase 1 moves three critical pieces of the Aquatic Center forward: design, steel acquisition and permitting.
Architectural and Engineering Design
Advances the coordinated architectural and engineering work required to move the Aquatic Center from concept toward a permit-ready project.
Steel Acquisition
Funds planned steel acquisition while coordination with the broader Zebulon project may create procurement and sequencing opportunities.
Permitting
Supports the permitting work required to move the Aquatic Center through county review toward construction readiness.
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Questions Donors Ask
These answers reflect where the project stands today, based on the county partnership, active site work, and current design plans.
Click a question to expand its answer.
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"I've spent years around this sport, first as a swim parent, then as a volunteer with USA Swimming for more than a decade, and now as part of a nonprofit with a real chance to make an impact. We've built this campaign so a gift to Phase 1 moves real work forward. Our commitment is to be outstanding stewards of every gift made, to make a difference in Douglas County and to give back to the sport that has given our families so much already."
Help Build the Place We've Been Missing.
For years, families, teams and aquatic programs across our community have made do with the water that's available.
We now have an opportunity to change that.
Your gift to Phase 1 helps move the Colorado Aquatic Center from plans toward a place people can actually walk into, learn in, train in, compete in and call home.
Your gift helps bring water safety, local access, and daily opportunity closer to home.
Choose your Phase 1 gift.
Douglas County has named CAF as its aquatics development partner, and the broader Zebulon project is moving forward. CAF is independently fundraising for the Colorado Aquatic Center. Leadership and naming opportunities are available for major gifts.
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Scan the QR code in your bank's app to donate to Colorado Aquatics Foundation at ColoradoAquatics.
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Your gift may be tax deductible. Colorado Aquatics Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is listed with the Colorado Secretary of State as a Charitable Organization. EIN: 93-2929414.