• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home Facility Development

Blue Springs Breaks Ground on New Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

John Reecer by John Reecer
November 14, 2022
in Facility Development, News
0
Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

Renderings courtesy of SFS Architecture

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Renderings courtesy of SFS Architecture.

Since 2000, the community of Blue Springs, Missouri, has asked for an aquatics park with modern amenities like slides, lazy rivers, etc. Fast forward to November 3, 2022, and the city answered the call by breaking ground on Blue Surf Bay Waterpark.

Dennis Dovel, the director of Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, said his department was able to conduct an aquatics study by SFS Architecture in 2019-20. Through the study a conceptual design was developed considering the residents’ top desires. That was then included in a dedicated sales tax initiative for park improvements.

The tax was passed with an 80% yes vote on April 2021 and included deferred park maintenance of existing parks, the construction of a waterpark and new park in the southern boundaries of Blue Springs.

“To meet the needs of the community and provide residents with options to remain in the community to meet their recreational needs, it was important to provide a new indoor/outdoor aquatics center,” said Dovel. “This will also contribute to attracting new businesses and new residents into the community. It will add to the economic impact by attracting non-residents to Blue Springs who will purchase other items and support local businesses.”

History and Features

Dovel said the city is currently without an outdoor pool or aquatics center due to the closing of a 40-year-old pool that was no longer cost-effective due to ongoing repairs. Additionally, attendance fell dramatically due to the facility not offering the amenities the public desired.

Now, Blue Surf Bay Waterpark will offer over 110,000 square feet of indoor and 60,000 square feet of outdoor area for patrons

The outdoor portion will have a 40-foot-tall slide tower with four different slide experiences including a tube slide that will twist its way into a plunge pool that flows into a 600-foot-long lazy river and a speed slide with a timing system.

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

“There is also a pool that will provide waves every 15 minutes for guests and a social pool attached offering basketball, volleyball and traditional swimming opportunities,” said Dovel. “The amenities don’t stop there, we have a zero-depth entry pool with a play structure for the little ones to enjoy the water, and while they are playing parents can relax on the sun shelf which offers lounge chairs in a few inches of water.”

However, for more adventurous guests, the Blue Surf Bay Waterpark will have a Murphy’s Air Dual Surf Simulator for boarding and standup surfing.

The indoor aquatic center will have a slide, splashpad for children, sauna for guests to utilize after workouts, whirlpool, lifestyle wellness pool with warm water and a four-lane, 25-yard cool water lap pool.

Partners, Community Reaction and Takeaways

Dovel said the total cost for construction and architectural services is an estimated $41.5 million. The project is scheduled to be completed and opened in May 2024. The architect of record is SFS Architecture, and the construction manager is McCown Gordon Construction, both of Kansas City, Missouri.

Other entities that helped make the project a reality include Water Technology, Inc., Westport Pools, SplashTacular, Stantec and Ninjacross Systems — among others.

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

“Everyone is extremely excited and wishes it was not 18 months down the road,” said Dovel. “This has been a long-standing desire of the community for over 20 years, and we are privileged to be able to make this become a reality.”

Also, Dovel advised for other community rec centers to be in constant communication with residents, and to push the envelope on designs and plans that give community members more than they expect.

“Everyone said we wanted a new aquatics center, but never thought it would be like this,” said Dovel. “This is beyond what we thought. We are not trying to be better than anyone, just trying to be the best we can be while serving our community. Too many people settle for the ordinary. Try being extraordinary and see how the community responds.”

 

Want more resources like this sent straight to your inbox each week? Sign up for a digital subscription here.

 

Tags: Blue SpringsCommunity Reccommunity recreationFeaturedfeaturedMissouriNinjacross SystemsSplashTacularStantecWater TechnologyWaterparkWestport Pools
Previous Post

Supporting Veterans Through Community Recreation

Next Post

Episode 2: Moderating the Summit and Contagious Energy with Keith Vinson and Rodrigua Ross

John Reecer

John Reecer

John Reecer is an assistant editor at Peake Media.

Related Posts

YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg
Facility Development

YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Opening Campus With Middle School

September 19, 2023
Staunton-Augusta YMCA
Facility Development

Staunton-Augusta YMCA Breaks Ground on New Site

August 28, 2023
Peloton
Community Development

Peloton Partnership Assists Community Health at YMCA of Metro Chicago

August 21, 2023
John Reecer
News

Community Rec Magazine Names John Reecer as Next Editor

August 7, 2023
Daxko
News

Daxko and Treo Wellness Partnership Delivers Full-Service Well-being

August 2, 2023
Partnership
News

YMCA of Metro Dallas Starts Partnership with Scottish Rite

July 31, 2023
Next Post
Keith Vinson and Rodrigua Ross

Episode 2: Moderating the Summit and Contagious Energy with Keith Vinson and Rodrigua Ross

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

July/August 2023 Issue

July/August Issue
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

September/October 2023

The Latest from CO

  • On-Demand: Exploring the Psychology of Weighing
  • Three Methods to Ensure Success When Evaluating Trends
  • YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Opening Campus With Middle School
  • Mastering Employee Onboarding

© 2023 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2023 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist