Douglas County is going all in on youth and amateur sports. On Tuesday, county commissioners unanimously signed off on four contracts for the Zebulon Regional Sports Complex, clearing the way for a roughly $65 million first phase on about 46 acres that will pack in multiple indoor hockey rinks, eight full‑size basketball courts, a 160,000‑square‑foot covered dome, a 15,000‑square‑foot fitness center and outdoor fields. County officials say construction is scheduled to start in October 2026, with a target completion of December 2028. Fans of the project say Zebulon will keep kids’ games closer to home, while critics warn the mega‑complex could strain water supplies, roads and county finances.
At a special business meeting, the board approved a design, construction and long‑term operations contract with KT Development, capped at $65 million, and awarded a $12 million infrastructure contract to SR Construction LLC, according to the Denver Gazette. Commissioners also voted to pursue financing that includes issuing $100 million in certificates of participation and accepted commitments totaling roughly $34 million from partner organizations to help fund and operate certain facilities on the site, the outlet reported.
Site History and Environmental Checks
The 46.5‑acre site earmarked for Zebulon lies near Waterton Road in the Sterling Ranch area and once housed a DuPont/Chemours explosives plant that shut down in 1989. After decades of testing and cleanup, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a closure letter in 2022 stating that the remediated parcels required no further cleanup. Douglas County says the parcel slated for Zebulon does not need additional remediation and will follow a materials‑management plan during construction, according to Douglas County.
Design, Amenities and Timeline
Early plans sketch out something close to a suburban sports village: a cluster of indoor hockey rinks, eight full‑size multi‑sport basketball courts, a 160,000‑square‑foot covered turf dome, a 15,000‑square‑foot fitness and lifestyle center, and outdoor baseball and multipurpose soccer fields. The first phase is expected to occupy roughly 46 acres, with initial site work projected to kick off in October 2026 and full build‑out targeted for December 2028, per the Denver Gazette.
Funding and Operations
Douglas County plans to rely on certificates of participation, a lease‑based financing tool, to cover much of the project cost and says Zebulon’s revenues are expected to repay that debt. The county lists the Parks, Trails, Historic Resources, and Open Space Fund as a potential backstop if those revenues fall short. The county’s Zebulon overview also notes that the county anticipates contributing tens of millions toward site and infrastructure costs and is seeking equity partners to help with construction and long‑term operations, according to Douglas County.
Support, Concerns and Next Steps
Public comment came in hot on both sides. Youth sports organizers and parents lined up to urge commissioners to push forward, arguing the complex would keep families from crisscrossing the metro area for games and tournaments. Residents and some officials countered that the project is too big, questioned the financing structure, and warned about potential traffic and water‑supply impacts. Coverage from CBS Colorado and other outlets shows the proposal has sparked sustained controversy, and commissioners say more public meetings and final design approvals are still ahead before any vertical construction begins.
