Jump In co-chair Traci Mallaro says the pool ‘truly reflects the strength, spirit, and unity of our community’
By Anelia K. Dimitrova
Ready to jump into the new competition pool at the Cedar Falls High School? How about enjoying water aerobics in the smaller, recreational pool right next to it?
Not quite yet, but soon. As soon as the Cedar Falls Community Natatorium opens its doors later this fall, these long-held wishes and many more dreams will materialize.
An official ribbon-cutting date for the new facility is yet to be announced, but during the celebration, some of the individual donors will truly jump in, a symbolic gesture from the members of a group called Jump In, recognizing the generosity and commitment to the cause of building a modern pool complex in town.
A project of such magnitude delivers a quality-of-life impact on the whole community and its completion puts Cedar Falls on the map for regional and state swim events, city leaders and swimming advocates say.
This modern facility on the high school campus will be the spot where the future of swimming and aquatic recreation in town will happen from now on.
It is called a “natatorium,” using the Latin word meaning a building with a swimming pool.
The Cedar Falls Community Natatorium features two pools – a deep-water competition pool and a shallower pool for therapeutic and teaching activities. The facility will be used jointly by the high school, by the city for activities and programs, as well as by the area swim teams, among others.
Now in the final phase of construction, the natatorium is a sight to be experienced with all the senses. The impressive structure, with an inviting glass exterior and the spacious, bright interior, are awe-inspiring.
Swimmers, families, community members and guests who enter it upon completion are likely to feel a jolt of joy and a reassurance that Cedar Falls is a town that values investment in the residents’ well-being.
But while the novelty may eventually fade in the public mind, what is likely to endure is the gratitude and appreciation for the efforts, known and unknown, of everyone whose dedication ultimately brought this project to fruition.
On a recent late Monday morning, the facility buzzed with crews putting in the tiling on the big pool and other finishing tasks.
Cedar Falls High School Athletics and Activities Director Justin Urbanek tells me the goal now is to have the facility host the Oct. 4 Marcussen Invitational competition. He is hopeful his staff will be able to test the scoreboards and electronics in the natatorium a couple of weeks prior to the high-profile event.
How did the Cedar Falls Community Natatorium come to be
For 45 years, the city and the school district have had a collaborative agreement for sharing the two in-door pools–one at Peet Junior High and the other one at Holmes Junior High.
But after approximately half a century in operation, those pools had reached the end of their lifecycle. For years, the operational cost of maintaining their outdated infrastructure continued to drain budgets, and even though the staff worked hard to find temporary solutions, the option of keeping them was unsustainable.
Now the spaces occupied by the old pools will be returned to their respective school buildings for classroom use.
Building the new pool complex
The solution, supported by the community, was to take a bold leap forward and create a new, ADA-compliant modern facility that reflects the values of the town.
And now it is almost here to be marveled at and enjoyed.
The 10-lane competition pool measures 25 yards by 25 meters, making it possible to change the direction as needed, and accommodate regional and state competitions. The recreational pool features four lanes and is shallower. The separate temperature control systems allow each pool to be calibrated in accordance with their purpose. The smaller pool, for instance, can be warmer as it makes it more conducive to community activities from toddler training to senior water walks.
An entrance leading directly into the pool area, as well as convenient parking, make it easy for citizens to use the facility during designated hours without having to enter the school building.
The 500-spectator capacity and the training room, along with the locker rooms, are also top notch.
“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 city said in a 2024 press release.
Collaborating partners
Investing in a new community space, regardless of its size and scope, is always the privilege of the present moment and a tribute to the future.
Designed by Invision Architecture and implemented by Peters Construction Corporation, the Cedar Falls Community Natatorium delivers on the vision that propelled it.
Its long-term benefits are likely to be felt for several generations to come as the pool is expected to serve the community for the next 50 years.
“It’s also a unique example of what can be achieved when everyone works together to accomplish the same goal,” said Lorelei Redfern, the co-chair of Jump In, the group which advocated and spearheaded the fundraising for the project. “City, school district, and community collaboration, plus support from the county, state, and many individuals, businesses and grants were key to making this happen. We’d like to thank everyone for their help, because if any of these components were missing, it could not have been built.”
The initial estimate for the complex was $21 million, according to city records, but later that number grew. The first phase, which includes building the facility’s shell, was initially estimated at $15.2 million. The second phase, which includes the two pools, locker rooms, and spectator seating among other amenities, accounts for the rest.
The Cedar Falls School District and the City of Cedar Falls allocated approximately $8 million each, and the Black Hawk County Gaming Association contributed $500,000, while the Enhance Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism program added $400,000.
Significantly, Jump In took on the challenge to reach out to the businesses and individual donors, moving the project forward. The group motivated and guided about 400 individuals and businesses, who dipped into their pocketbooks for the common good. Collectively, they drummed up $4 million, making a real difference in the amenities the completed pool will offer.
For leaders like Black Hawk Area Swim Team Head Coach Melissa Woltz, the new facility is a transformative opportunity in the development of her swimmers.
“While our coaches and athletes work tirelessly, our current facility limitations restrict how many children we can serve, the quality of training we can provide, and the scope of our community impact,” she said.
“This new state-of-the-art aquatics facility will transform our program from a small but passionate organization into a sustainable community institution that develops champions both in and out of the pool.”
As the work continues and the clock ticks down to the finish line, on balance, the natatorium will be celebrated as the cumulative outcome of the community’s collaborative spirit, the inclusive approach of stakeholders and the generosity of individual donors, businesses and non profits.
“This natatorium represents a critically important enhancement to the quality of life in our community,” said Traci Mallaro, co-chair of Jump In. “I’m so excited for the children who will learn to swim here, the young athletes who will develop discipline and resilience through swim teams, the adults who will maintain their fitness through swimming, and the many for whom healing will be supported by aquatic activity.
“With this new complex, we now have a pool that truly reflects the strength, spirit, and unity of our community.”
Urbanek, the athletics and activities director, who is in his first year on this job, said he is happy to have stepped into the position at the very moment when the natatorium is being built as it will create many opportunities for the district and the community in terms of activities and growth.
“It’s been pretty cool to see,” he said. “And we’re really looking forward to getting it off the ground.”