Montgomery development news

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Proposed water park. Mixed feelings about this one. That side of town definately needs development, but I'm afraid this will fail and just be a rotting shell in less than 5 years....

Proposed water park could lift west Montgomery

By Sebastian Kitchen
Montgomery Advertiser


Negotiations to bring a water park to the city could create a stream of opportunities for west Montgomery.

Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, Councilman C.C. Calhoun and other city officials met Tuesday with private developers about building a water park on city land in Gateway Park. The project would be established through a partnership between the city and a Pennsylvania-based developer.

"Both Councilor Calhoun and the mayor are interested in hearing what the developer has to say because the project could be a huge attraction for west Montgomery and lead to increased economic development in that area. But there are a lot of questions that still have to be answered," said Michael Briddell, executive assistant to Bright.

Gateway Park is a city-owned park under construction just east of Interstate 65 and north of South Boulevard.

Briddell said there is a possibility the city could talk to other developers about building a water park on the site. Calhoun said the council might hear presentations from others about the park at future meetings. He said the council would need to vote on the issue.

Calhoun said his primary interest is bringing more family entertainment to the city, especially in the high visibility area along the interstate.

"The city of Montgomery has very little for family entertainment other than baseball," he said. "When you look at it, families really travel to water parks."

The park would include a lazy river, water slides and other amenities typical of water parks, Calhoun said. It would be open about six months of the year and could draw 150,000 to 200,000 patrons, officials said.

Gateway Park is under construction and will include a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, sporting fields and courts, a clubhouse and a community lodge. There already is a 23-acre lake at the site.

Calhoun said the park would be great for family reunions and other events in the area, with golf and family recreation at the same site.

He also is optimistic a water park would draw other development, including hotels, into the area and help clean up that portion of the city. He said they have been working on the water park for about three months.

Calhoun said negotiations on the park are getting closer, but there is no reason to celebrate until an agreement is reached in writing.

Since the proposed project would be a partnership with the city, Briddell said it has to meet quite a few standards.