Proposed Cedar Bayou Park identifies third spot

CEDAR RAPIDS - A proposed water park for southwest Cedar Rapids has identified a new location after plans to build at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center fell through.

Nick Ford, CEO of Cedar Bayou Parks, said his company has land under contract that would put the water park immediately east of Interstate 380 and north of Wright Brothers Boulevard. The current landowner, Jim Dyer, also has invested in the Cedar Bayou Parks project, Ford said.

Cedar Bayou Parks has selected Miron Construction Co. as the project's construction manager, the company said in a statement.

Ford proposed the water park in 2015 for a site south of Lincolnway Park near the intersection of 66th Avenue SQ and J Street SW. Then, last October, the project's expected site moved to a location next to Hawkeye Downs. After a land survey showed the site's bedrock was too deep to support the water park, Ford said he would look for another location.

On Monday, Ford said he is confident the third location is the charm, in part because he has the land under contract and Dyer's investment. The land sale hasn't closed, but Ford said he has 40 acres under contract, with an option for an additional 36 acres.

'We're very confident in this. (The land) was built for stuff like this,” Ford said.

Cedar Bayou still needs to conduct due diligence work on Dyer's land, but Ford said he plans to break ground this coming October. He wants the park open by the end of 2018 or early 2019, he said.

'It's been a long two years for me, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a pretty short time overall,” Ford said.

Plans for the Cajun-themed park include an indoor 75,000-square-foot water park with rides, a 150-room hotel and a natatorium with a traditional swimming pool that can serve as both a recreational pool and be used for athletic events, Ford said.

The project is expected to cost about $77 million and Ford said he has lined up private investors, such as Dyer. He also may seek city and state incentives as the project moves forward.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; matthew.patane@thegazette.com