Expansion on course for Deep River

[Yoda]

For those of you who have went to Deep River (located in Merrillville) may have noticed that there’s been construction going on. Are they expanding it or what, is my question every time I pass thru there. Well... they’re doing exactly that. Just take a look at this article.

 

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2004/12/20/ne...f6f007b8ad2.txt

 

MERRILLVILLE: Revamped water park will offer kayaking, ice skating

 

MERRILLVILLE | Agreeably mild winter weather has kept workers at Deep River Waterpark on course for a May 27 opening, with newly added attractions to make it useable on a near year-round basis.

 

New offerings will include ice skating in the winter and kayaking in the fall and spring, said Jim Basala, superintendent of business development for the Lake County Parks Department.

 

Expansion work started right after the park closed its doors after Labor Day, but workers have been able to get a lot accomplished since the weather has remained cooperative. Heavy rains earlier this month have been the only thing slowing down the project.

 

"We're moving right along. We're pretty close to schedule," Basala said.

 

Once the expansion is complete, the park will be nearly twice its present size. Basala said the $11 million expansion project, located to the front and west of the existing water park, will include a 1,300-foot action river, a large family play area with a rain forest-type effect and single and double raft rides that end up in the river.

 

In addition, the water park's entrance will include an ice plaza, similar to the Skate on State in Chicago, with gift and food shops.

 

Visitors should also find parking and entering the park easier with the addition of some 220 to 250 parking spaces and a reconfigured entrance boasting five new ticket booths for admittance.

 

"The group entrance, which is now in the back, will be in the front which will ease crowd control," he said.

 

A new bathhouse is also being added, he said.

 

Basala said the water park presently takes up 8 to 9 acres with the campus expanding to 14 acres when completed.

 

He said there are 22 acres available within the park and 20 to 30 more acres the park could access.

 

"We have lots of space and lots more to do. We're not done yet," he said.

 

Although the park is owned by the county, the tab for the expansion is not being paid for by taxpayers. Instead the money has been borrowed in the form of a revenue bond and will be paid back through revenue generated from visitors to the park.

 

Attendance is expected to climb once the expansion is complete, Basala said. Presently the peak daily attendance is 4,500, a figure that is expected to rise to 6,500, he said. Annual attendance, once the expansion is completed, is expected to climb from 250,000 to 400,000 in a few years.

 

"We'll be going from being open three months to being open for at least nine months out of the year," Basala said.

 

He said the park may be closed for a few months in the early spring so staff can do necessary maintenance.

 

For those of you who haven’t been to Deep River and are interested in learning more about this water park, check the website. http://deepriverwaterpark.com/

[mreye]

I haven't been in about 4 years, but I'm sure with my daughter getting older we'll start going more.