Cedar Falls Community Natatorium receives $400,000 state grant for construction project

The Community Natatorium in Cedar Falls is now $400,000 richer.

The natatorium, an indoor pool complex currently being constructed at the new Cedar Falls High School location on 27th west of Hudson Road, was awarded the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant from the State of Iowa.

The natatorium, an indoor pool complex currently being constructed at the new Cedar Falls High School location on 27th west of Hudson Road, is a collaborative project between the City of Cedar Falls, Cedar Falls School District, Black Hawk County, and the public.

The project has been spearheaded largely by Jump In, a group of over 550 community members.

The members have advocated for the project and coordinated key fundraisers for the natatorium.

The facility continues a 45-year partnership between the City and School District to provide indoor pools, not only for area students, but for the entire community as well.

The state grant is contingent on raising additional funds for the completion of the project.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to bring in state dollars to help complete the Community Natatorium,” said Lorelei Redfern, co-chair at Jump In. “This grant is conditional on raising $312,000 and we only have until May 31, 2024, to raise this amount from individuals and businesses. This is just 1.5 percent of the total project cost, and we believe our community will rise to the occasion to make sure the natatorium can be completed and become a valuable asset for our city.”

The Community Natatorium will be open to the public and replace the outdated existing indoor public pools in Cedar Falls located at Holmes and Peet Junior High, which are almost 50 years old.

The new facility utilizes an innovative design to allow for multipurpose use.

The goal is to create one of the best aquatic facilities in Iowa to allow the Cedar Valley a new opportunity to promote health and recreation, while also attracting families to aquatic programming and drawing athletic events to the area.

The Iowa Travel Industry Partners Economic Impact Calculator estimates that the economic impact from tourism with new and expanded events is over $2.5 million annually.

The Community Natatorium is expected to be completed by early 2025.

The project has a total estimated cost of $21 million and consists of two phases. Phase 1, which builds the shell of the building, is nearing completion. Phase 2 (the portion of the project the CAT grant will contribute towards) completes the facility with the competition pool, therapy pool, warm-up/cool down for sporting events, decks, locker rooms, and spectator seating. In addition to the state grant, the Community Natatorium received a Black Hawk County Gaming grant of $500,000 in December 2023.

To find out how you can contribute to the Community Natatorium, including a link to donate online, visit thecfpool.com.