January 21, 2003

Bluffs riverfront and water park development plans moving forward

lans for an $80 million condominium and apartment complex on Council Bluffs riverfront moved one step closer last week when the City Council approved an agreement between the city and developers.

The project does not come without some concerns from local citizens, however. A few people would like to see some retail space included in the plan but an attorney for the developers claims there is not enough vehicle access for a large commercial development.

Besides the two proposed upscale condos and two smaller apartment buildings, the plan does include a recreational area that will feature a nine-acre lake with a lighted trail surrounding it and a walkway that will connect to the pedestrian bridge and other riverfront trails. It will also have a 60-stall parking lot, a pier and a fountain centered in the lake. The pedestrian bridge will pass over one end of the lake and end along the river levee.

Update: Proposed Water Park - Financing in place - Pending city approval.

nother project being planned in Council Bluffs is also moving forward. A proposal to build a 23-acre water park must still be approved by the City Council but it appears the basic financing is in place. The park which is estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million is being financed by private investors.

The site is just west of the new Mid-America Center and sits on 15 acres south of 24th Avenue between South 32nd and 33rd Streets. Developers are hoping to break ground on the project this Spring with a planned opening date of Memorial Day 2004.

The water park will have more attractions than Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. It will feature a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, a 21,000-square-foot lazy river and two high-speed slides standing 62 feet high. There will also be four body slides, two bullet inner tube slides, two cannonball slides, a sidewinder slide, a children's play structure with a capacity of 300, a toddler play area, corporate picnic areas and other amenities.

With an estimated yearly attendance of between 225,000 and 250,000, the park will employ about 100 people. It will be open from 10 am to 7 pm daily for an average of 80 to 85 days per year.