Urban oasis: Dallas delivers the first inner-city waterpark to urban families

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 2005 by Greg Yost

The Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas is home to some of the most beautiful and stately homes in the Southwest. It also has more than its share of low-income residents, a high rate of crime and, like any other neighborhood, families looking for leisure opportunities.

Providing a new venue for quality, wholesome entertainment in this neighborhood was not a task for the faint of heart. With the cooperation from elected officials, a forward-thinking park and recreation department and a courageous private management company, the country's first inner-city waterpark was produced. Bahama Beach is a six-acre, $5.5 million full-fledged waterpark with an 800-foot-long continuous river, 14 waterslides, an aquatic play structure that can accommodate 400 kids at one time, restaurants, picnic areas and ample shade.

The Need for Inner-City Recreation

The Oak Cliff community is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Dallas, having been incorporated in 1887. The area encompasses virtually the entire southern area of downtown Dallas and is home to about one million residents. The area is rich in ethnic diversity with about one-third of the population African-American; one-third Hispanic and one-third Caucasian.

The idea of an inner-city waterpark first took root in 2001, when Dallas Park and Recreation Department Director Paul Dyer commissioned an aquatic specialty firm to survey and analyze the aquatic recreation opportunities for Dallas. The larger regional parks became "teen parks," and parents with small children felt insecure in that type of setting. The firm's study outlined a new need to service parents of young children with a safe, affordable and fun outdoor recreation opportunity not currently available in the market.

The study also pointed out that many of the small, drain-and-fill type neighborhood pools were in an aging state of disrepair and not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act or Texas aquatic codes. In addition to the smaller pools, the city has 21, 100,000-plus gallon community pools, but a new pool had not been added to the system since 1978--with the oldest pool dating back to 1947. Furthermore, the recreation opportunities available at these swimming facilities are limited because they have not been updated to keep with younger visitors' expectations.

Armed with the study supporting both the need for and the financial viability of a waterpark in the economically challenged south Dallas area, a coalition of neighborhood leaders, elected officials and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department began their work. In spring 2003, energized by the concept of having a true waterpark in their neighborhood, the citizens of Dallas overwhelmingly passed a bond to fund the facility.

"The vision for this facility arose several years ago, when the park and recreation department examined its aquatic programs and facilities and looked at the needs and interests of the community," Dyer says. "This led to the development of the department's Aquatic Master Plan. The plan outlined the need for consolidating resources into larger, all-inclusive, highly themed facilities like aquatic centers. The result of the plan's findings is Bahama Beach, the first park of its kind to be developed in an urban environment."

Standing on its Own

The funding for the construction of the waterpark came with one important mandate--waterpark operations must be self-sufficient. In other words, the park had to stand on its own financially and must show a positive cash flow.

Realizing the potential political and financial fallout if the waterpark operation did not meet the self-funding mandate, Dyer and the Dallas Park Board determined that a private management company should be considered.

By fall 2003, Dyer and his staff prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit potential park operators from the private sector. The RFP called for private enterprise to partner with Dallas in the design and operation of the park.

After sifting through proposals, the management team of HFE-Horizon was selected to take on an industry first--a full-fledged waterpark in the inner-city of one of the biggest cities in America. HFE-Horizon was awarded the contract in May 2004 and groundbreaking for Bahama Beach was held on June 26, 2004. The park opened one year later.

P.Y. Yancy, park general manager, says there is significant potential for success for inner-city waterparks, not just in Dallas but all over the country. "Within 20 minutes of the park, there are 1.3 million people who are potential waterpark guests," says Yancy. "Until Bahama Beach opened, there was no venue in the area for families to experience quality, wholesome entertainment in the form of a waterpark. Because of the forward thinking of the city of Dallas, these families now have their own neighborhood waterpark and do not have to drive an hour or more to the nearest facility."

As far as guest behavior and security incidents, Bahama Beach has had an exceptional record, Yancy says. "We have not had one incident that required outside security. Our employees and guests have been ladies and gentlemen. Our concern about security issues never became a reality."