County dives in to make splash with Simpsonville water park
The Greenville News - Greenville, S.C.
Author: April M Silvaggio
Date: Dec 17, 2003
Start Page: B.2
Section: Suburbs
Text Word Count: 792
Document Text
Discovery Island may be open by the summer
By April M. Silvaggio
STAFF WRITER
asilvagg@greenvillenews.com
SIMPSONVILLE - It will be Greenville County's own version of Wet 'N Wild, an estimated $2.3 million water park with spouting geysers, splashy slides and a 270-foot lazy river perfect for cooling off on a hot summer afternoon.
The Greenville County Recreation District will begin building it in January on the site of Southside Park's old swimming pool.
Demolition of the pool, an antiquated structure built more than two decades ago, is beginning this week, said Dan Rodgerson, executive director of the Recreation District. The goal is to open the gates to what will be known as Discovery Island this summer,
"I think this is great," said Kathy Starnes, 34, of Simpsonville, who has two young sons. "My boys love the water parks at Myrtle Beach, but obviously they only get to those a couple of times each summer. I can envision packing a lunch and spending the day there."
Along with the lazy river, the water park is expected to boast a 250-foot tube slide and a 185-foot body slide, as well as play structures and a zero depth play area to serve the tiniest of swimmers.
The tube slide will splash into a side section of the lazy river, allowing for a continuation of the ride. Swimmers may choose to relax for a few minutes and float with the current, or they may decide to hop out and brave the ride again.
The body slide will splash into a zone near the leisure pool.
Shelters will be in place to accommodate parties, family reunions and corporate functions. Discovery Island also will be available for private rental after hours.
The project, which overcame its final hurdle this month by winning approval for construction from the Zoning Board of Appeals, will be funded from the issuance of a low-interest revenue bond, which allows the proceeds from the use of the facility to pay for the debt service on the construction costs.
The Greenville County Council approved the revenue bond to finance the venture last summer.
It likely will cost $4-$6 per person to enter the park, Rodgerson said.
And while it won't be as large or quite as flashy as Wet 'N Wild, the nationally recognized name in premier water parks from Orlando to Las Vegas, it will be a substantial facility for Greenville County.
"We'll actually have a capacity of about 1,000, but that will include the picnic areas and concession areas," Rodgerson said. "Our plans are to do some lush landscaping and to have a lot of shade features. This is going to be a lot more than a swimming pool."
An estimated 8,000 people used the pool at Southside Park last year, according to the recreation district. When the water park opens this summer, officials believe that number will easily reach 40,000.
Expectations are that the water park will help draw tourists to Greenville County from all over the Upstate.
"I don't think there is another facility like this within at least 100 miles," Rodgerson said. "There is nothing like it in Columbia, and nothing like it in Spartanburg.
"I don't think we'll be competing with anybody locally, and that is why we wanted to do it. We wanted to offer something that hasn't been offered here."
It also should enable the recreation district to enhance existing programs, Rodgerson said.
"We believe the Discovery Island will aid in the instruction of teaching toddlers to swim because the zero depth area will let them gradually ease into the water while still touching the bottom," he said. "The lazy river will provide better water walking classes due to the extra resistance."
Tracy Kennedy, 28, of Mauldin, said all of the improvements at Southside Park will remind folks of its presence off Baldwin Road about a mile from Interstate 385 in the Golden Strip.
The park is home to the Discovery Park super-playground, and it boasts eight tennis courts, four athletic fields and a huge picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 300 people.
"It is really one of the nicer parks, and I don't think a lot of people know where Southside is," she said.
"Between the new playground and the water park, I think people will want to come here. And they should. My nieces and nephews love the playground. I think the water park will be a great place for church groups and scout troops."
Staff writer April M. Silvaggio can be reached at 298-4801.
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Out with the old: Workers from McCalls Construction demolish on Tuesday the old Southside Park pool, where a new water park will be built.
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