Wow – just think of the fun!

June 22, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Normally, North Myrtle Beach Council Workshops subjects are dry and dull – dealing with tweaking this ordinance, creating a new one or changing the trash pickup schedules.  Don’t get me wrong. These are important things. We report on them and let you know what they mean to you – the resident or the visitor.  But . . .

This Monday, June 25th the Council is holding a workshop on an exciting subject – a proposal for a new water park!  A private company has had discussions underway for some time with city officials to create a five to ten acre water park at the new sports complex.
 For representation only
Compare that with Myrtle Waves – a 20 acre water park off Hwy 17 bypass near Broadway at the Beach.  Myrtle Waves claims to have 200,000 visitors a season.  The proposal by the private company, internal studies by the city and an outside consultant expect the North Myrtle Beach water park to reach 140,000 visitors by the second year of operation.  A great stimulus for the local economy.

According to Pat Dowling, Public Information Officer for the City of North Myrtle Beach, the infrastructure at the sports complex is sufficient to handle the forecasted traffic load without any modifications. Dowling said, “The city will lease the land to the water park company who will be responsible for all financing. The city will not be involved financially and will be negotiating liability concerns along with provisions to protect the city in case the water park company is not successful.”

Among the benefits Dowling cites is the additional marketing and promotion by the water park that will bring people in to use the sports complex.   Dowling pointed out that the sports complex is a prime location for this type of use, citing that it will be visible and easily accessed from three major thoroughfares - the Robert Edge Parkway bringing people from the center of North Myrtle Beach; Highway 31 drawing people from the South Strand and Highway 90 transporting visitors from the interior of Horry County and North Carolina.