Young athletes in northeast Albuquerque will have a new way of making a splash.

The North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center is now under construction. The completed project will include an Olympic-size indoor competition pool as its centerpiece.

Other amenities include a diving pool with three diving boards, a heated indoor 25-yard therapy pool and an outdoor pool with a large recreational water play area with two slides and multiple play-and-spray features. The natatorium will include seating for up to 850 spectators.

A group of dignitaries were on hand at the Corona Avenue site for a groundbreaking ceremony. Among them were New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Brook Bassan, Bernalillo County Commissioner Walt Benson and multiple state legislators.

The park is the last piece of the 57-acre North Domingo Baca Park project, according to Bassan. It was the result of a master plan generated more than 20 years ago, she said.

“I’m very excited about this project,” she said. “I’m finally delivering on a long-awaited promise.”

Bassan said that voters have been asking for the project for years. The original master plan, she said, called for a swimming pool at the site, but that part of the project has grown into a venue that will draw competitions and high-level training from neighboring states into New Mexico.

“It’s going to be a significant economic driver for the state, and even more so for Albuquerque,” she said.

Bassan said that local high-school aquatics athletes will benefit from the presence of the new center. As an example, she mentioned that La Cueva High School athletes now have to travel to Highland High School for practice.  

“Kids are traveling across the entire city of Albuquerque (to train),” Bassan said. “They should be able to do that in their own neighborhoods.”

She said that training time at other city pools is maxed out, a situation that will be relieved when the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center opens. Bassan said the construction could take as little as 18 months.

Lujan Grisham’s office contributed $5 million toward the project. She said the aquatic center will serve as an important place for young athletes to train, a gathering place for the community and an economic boon to the city, as home to swimming and diving competitions and other events.

Other local state and Albuquerque Public Schools money for the project has come to more than $45 million to date, according to a news release on the groundbreaking. 

“We’re delivering on the promise of a state-of-the-art facility for Albuquerque families,” Mayor Tim Keller said in the release. “With the support and commitment of all the partners involved, the city will finally bring this project to life.”

He also said that the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center will offer the University of New Mexico a competition venue that meets major-college standards. He also envisions the center as a site for water polo tournaments and Olympic training. 

State Rep. Marian Matthews suggested that the aquatic center could be a springboard to greatness.

“This is an incredibly exciting day not only for this part of our city, but for all of Albuquerque and New Mexico,” Matthews said in the release. “The aquatic center is recreation and exercise for all ages, and those with disabilities … and just maybe it’s the training ground for the next Michael Phelps or Katie Ledecky.”

State Rep. Bill Rehm said in the release that the groundbreaking represents years of collaborative effort by city, county and state leaders.

State Sen. Daniel Ivey Soto said in the release that other possibilities include scuba and altitude training activities.

“The North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center is an incredible example of what can happen when multiple agencies, their representatives, and the people come together to make something happen,” said State Sen. Moe Maestas “Congratulations to all in building a world-class facility for our community.”

The first work to be done is construction of a retaining wall and other groundwork. Huitt-Zollars is the project architect.

Bassan said that the city will next issue requests for proposals for construction of the aquatic center.

The larger North Domingo Baca Park project includes a skate park, a playground and a Multigenerational Center.