Making a splash — Private developers sought for water park project

A decade-long effort to see an outdoor water park built at Mobile County’s Sportsplex property made a substantial leap forward this week.

Mobile County Commissioners unanimously approved a $60,000 professional consulting agreement Monday morning with Cleveland, Ohio-based Hotel & Leisure Advisors (H&LA) to recruit and negotiate a private developer to construct, lease and operate a waterpark on a 25-acre block at the Mobile County Sportsplex.

Monday’s decision was spurred on due to the County Commission receiving a final draft of the water park feasibility study last month. Commission President Connie Hudson said the county paid H&LA $25,000 to conduct the comprehensive study, which will not only provide the commission with administrative insight, but also acts as a tool in the recruitment process.

According to the feasibility study published on April 18, a preliminary plan proposes a $20-$30 million park featuring 15-20 rides and attractions, including a lazy river, wave pool, surf machine, leisure pool, interactive playground, and toddler slides. Future expansions could include a ropes course and zipline.

Recommendations for the park include having a single park theme, seasonal promotional events, rented cabanas, paid parking and a season pass.

Hudson said H&LA was involved in developing OWA’s new indoor Tropic Falls water park, which is set to open in June. The 100,000-square-foot facility has a retractable roof and 11 water slides. Orange Beach has proposed a new water park at Bama Bayou; however, no developments have gone forward.

H&LA said Waterville USA in Gulf Shores is a “comparable property.” Originally opened in 1986, Waterville has 14 water slides and other non-water attractions and is reported to bring in approximately 175,000 annual guests.

“We have great confidence in H&LA and their administrative staff and are very comfortable with this consulting group,” Hudson said.

The county facility sits immediately northwest of the intersection of Interstates 10 and 65 on Halls Mill Road. Earlier this year, the commission paid $2 million for an additional 64 acres adjacent to the 150-acre sports complex, which houses a number of soccer fields. The proposed water park will share that additional land with a planned 40,000-square-foot indoor aquatic center.

The consulting costs will be paid out of Commission President Connie Hudson’s District 2 discretionary funds. The first $30,000 is being used to retain the firm’s services, and the remaining $30,000 is to be paid upon closing a successful deal. Hudson said she hopes they have a developer identified by the end of this summer.
Hudson told Lagniappe following the meeting she believes the park will be a highly anticipated amenity for county residents, who she said have been voicing support for such a facility over the last several decades.

“[H&LA] will be acting as the liaison and will be using their experience and expertise to put out information into the industry to identify and vet interested parties and negotiate the best partner,” Hudson said. “They know the industry and they have contacts. This will be a privately funded investment. Mobile County is not in the water park business.”
During a May 19 work session, Hudson said the commission may offer some sort of incentive package for the park, such as a land lease. The commission will already be adding water and sewer infrastructure to the property for its aquatic center and it will have a dual purpose to serve the water park.

Hudson said past traffic studies at the 1-10 and I-65 intersection indicate 130,000 to 150,000 motorists travel the area every day. She also noted the park will enhance sports tourism for families staying in the area for weekend tournaments.

Hudson said the commission decided at the onset of the Sportsplex project that it would not be issuing a bond to support the work, which means development has been a year-over-year endeavor as additional funding has been made available.

The Mobile County Sportsplex has been in the works since 2011. Phase 1 of the project is complete and has provided three soccer fields with lighting and parking. Phase 2 is expected to break ground this fall and will add a championship soccer field with 1,400-person stadium seating and two additional parking lots. Phase 3 will complete a total of five fields, added restrooms and a parking lot.