City to reveal plans for one of five neighborhood water parks

Summertime in El Paso means finding ways to beat the heat and the city of El Paso will soon provide more options for residents to stay cool. A total of five neighborhood water parks are in the works for the city.

On Thursday evening, the city will reveal plans for the central El Paso location at Ross Middle School.

Ross Middle is part of the El Paso School District’s consolidation and will be moved to nearby Hughey Elementary where it will become a kinder through eighth grade campus.

Other locations include:

– West El Paso

– Northeast (Cohen Stadium)

– Lower Valley (former Lionel Forti swimming pool)

– Far East El Paso (future site of Eastside Regional Park)

The water parks are part of the 2012 Quality of Life Bond. The initial plan called for rectangular lap pools to replace older swimming pools, but city engineer Sam Rodriguez says over the years plans have change to accommodate the interests of residents.

“That’s (rectangular pools) no longer the national trend, in terms of aquatics recreation perspective, and the city is catching up to what the rest of the country is doing,” Rodriguez said.

Amenities for the water parks include a lap pool, recreation pool, kiddie pool, playground, slides, concession stands and cabanas.

The parks are also designed for nighttime use in which residents can rent them for special events.

“They’re really programmed to be a very awesome community amenity,” Rodriguez said.

Each water park will have a unique theme created by a consultant after several community meetings where residents voiced there opinions. The puclic was also able to weigh in on the plans through an online survey.

All the themes have been revealed, except for the central location. The city will host a community meeting Thursday night to present the final design to residents.

The west El Paso water park will have a tropical paradise that will “promise a fantastical journey through the jungle,” according to a slideshow presentation made at a recent city council meeting.

Guests will see suspension bridges, foliage, waterfalls, hammocks and cabanas.

In northeast El Paso, the water parks will have a “sporty arroyo theme” with murals around the park depicting planes, motorcycles, rock climbing and bouldering to put guests “in a sporty state of mind.”

Amenities proposed for that park include inflatable water activities and water obstacles.

The eastside water park’s theme is inspired by Hueco Tanks State Park and described as a “desert oasis.”

The park could feature water cannons, a climbing structure and stylish bungalows to allow residents soak in dramatic desert features and landscapes.

The water park in the lower valley will replace the Lionel Forti swimming pool that was torn down.

It is proposed to have a fiesta theme with vibrant colors and a plaza-like atmosphere.

Amenities include a massive “wave ball” that creates waves in the pool, colorful slides, murals and nighttime events.

Rodriguez said the size of the water parks will be larger than the newly-installed spray parks around the city, but on a smaller scale compared to an amusement water park.

“They are geared up to be used by all generations, from toddlers to seniors, and folks with disabilities,” Rodriguez said. All the leisure pools will have zero-depth entry for people with disabilities.

Each water park has a budget of nearly $8 million.

Rodriguez said construction is set to begin between the end of 2018 and the start of 2019.

The water parks are expected to be complete by the summer of 2020.

The theme for the central water park will be revealed Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at the Ross Middle School cafeteria.