Work has started on a water feature at Tri-City Court Club in Kennewick.
And developers of two much-larger planned Tri-City water parks said they plan to break ground this summer.
Workers have started building foundations for a bath house, concession stand and other buildings that will be part of what the Tri-City Court Club is calling SplashDown Cove, said Janelle Klashke, club general manager. The 17,000-square-foot area will be next to the existing facility at 1350 N. Grant St.
Club owners Carlton and Lynda Cadwell of Richland have long wanted to add the water feature, Klashke said. "He felt it was a good time to do this," she said.
"I think it's really exciting," Klashke said. "I think it's going to provide awesome family fun."
SplashDown Cove will be open to the club's members and guests. Members and others also will be able to rent about 2,000 square feet of shaded cabanas that will be part of the facility, which the club hopes to have open by the time school gets out, Klashke said.
Tri-Cities-based Construction Management Services is building the buildings and cabanas. That part of the project is valued at $327,000.
Klashke estimated the total cost of the project at close to $2 million.
Employees of The Pool Co. of Tacoma also have started digging holes for three pools. One will be a zero-entry pool for toddlers with a play structure with spray features.
The water feature includes a lazy river as well as a play pool for volleyball and other games. Swimming lessons will be offered in that pool, Klashke said.
Klashke said the club is waiting for final approval from the state Department of Health before it can finish the pools.
A 28-foot-tall, twisting slide will be part of the water feature, which was designed by Water Technology Inc. of Beaver Dam, Wisc.
Meanwhile, the developer of a much-larger water park planned in Pasco said he plans to be in town the week of April 16-23 to announce more details of the 27-acre project on Sandifur Parkway just west of Broadmoor Square mall.
"I'll have graphics and all kinds of cool stuff," said Jim Hale, chief executive officer of Dynamic Waters, which is building Bahama Bay Water Park.
Hale lives in Orlando, Fla., but the Pasco High graduate said part of his motivation for building the park is to move back to Pasco to be closer to family.
He plans to break ground and move back to the Tri-Cities in June, and hopes to open the park Memorial Day 2012.
The Pasco City Council granted Hale a permit to build the park March 1, 2010. Since then, Hale said, he has been looking for money.
"We should be able to get that right away," Hale said. He wouldn't say who might be funding the project, other than it will be private money. He also wouldn't give a cost estimate for the project.
Hale said the park will include a wave pool, lazy river, seven elevated slides and a go-cart track.
Mike Hillman, the developer of another water park in Kennewick, said he plans to break ground on Shark Reef Water Park in July.
Hillman's company plans to build the park on 10 acres at Highway 395 and Christiansen Road in the Southridge area.
Hillman said the park will include eight water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and a kids' water play area. Also planned are a glow-in-the-dark mini golf course and a drive-in movie theater.
The development company has retained firms to do the structural engineering, hydrologic engineering and civil engineering on the more than $10 million project, Hillman said.
That includes about $1.2 million to buy the property.
Hillman said he didn't want to name any of the retained firms except for Water Technology Inc., which is designing the park layout.
Although he hasn't yet applied for any building permits, he said he also plans to open the water park Memorial Day 2012.
Hillman, of Kennewick, said his company is seeking private funding for the project. His development company includes his brother-in-law, David Schlotthauer of Pasco, Hillman said.
* Kathy Korengel: 509-582-1541; kkorengel@tricityherald.com
