Shepherdsville breaks ground on $25 million aquatic center expected to be complete in 2026

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bullitt County residents will have a new place to find relief from summer heat in the near future.

Officials on Friday held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $25.2 million aquatic center that will be built by the Hagerman Group on Joe B. Hall Avenue, next to Kart Kountry. The center will feature an outdoor pool as well as an indoor pool, along with water slides, a splash park and pickleball courts.

The aquatic center is part of a $30 million project that also includes revitalizing Shepherdsville's parks and streetscapes. The city bought the land where the center will be built, near the Shepherdsville exit off Interstate 65, from Kart Country in 2023.

Shepherdsville Aquatic Center — A warehouse once owned by Kart Kountry off of I-65 exit in Shepherdsville, Ky. was knocked down to make way for the city's new $25 million aquatic center.

Mayor Jose Cubero said the center should be able to host swim meets and other competitions. The aquatic center is part of a $30 million project in Shepherdsville that also includes revitalizing its parks and streetscape. The city received a $30 million loan from the Kentucky League of Cities to help start the project. That money will be paid back over the course of a 25-year period.

"This is a big project with a lot of money invested, and we want to do it right," Cubero said. "We want to build it right, and we want to make sure that we run it right."

Shepherdsville resident Brance Gould said he's looking forward to enjoying the new facility. "It’s going to be a fantastic addition for our community, and our kids, and all involved," he said.

David Lightner praised the mayor for his efforts, and said he believes the center could even attract people from outside the center.

"I moved here myself four years ago," Lightner said. "I lived in Chicago where there's plenty to do, and I was a little embarrassed at first to ride downtown and say this is where I live."

Cubero said it's past time to provide residents of Shepherdsville and Bullitt County with the state-of-the-art facility.

"We have a community that wants this," Cubero said. "What it is, is it's not just for Shepherdsville. It's for our county, it's for the regional aspect of things here. That's what's important to us."

And Cubero said this is only the beginning. "We're just getting started."

That's great news for residents like Lightner, who lives not far from the site. "I live just a mile-and-a-half from here," he said. I love that we’ve got all these things to do coming up. The mayor has a great vision."

Related Content: