Bellevue Bay Indoor Waterpark (Highway 34 and 75)

[Aloishhh]

Has anyone seen this? Posted two or so weeks ago right after a city council meeting was posted.

[skinzfan23]

I did see that but not a ton of new info yet. Oct 1st is the date they have set for releasing further details. Thanks for posting though bc it does explain all the current details they have released.

[thenewguy]

the people online complaining about the water park are astonishing. Not that they are complaining, but their complaints make them sound flat out ignorant. One poster said it looks so small, but in reality, it's approximately the size of many of the larger indoor parks in the country. People constantly say the most ignorant comment since the dawn of time: "why not use that money to fix the roads?" Like, which roads are so bad that we should forego building something worthwhile to draw in tourism dollars (that would also help pay for roads) for the next 20+ years or longer? The general public is so damn dumb sometimes, it is astounding.

[Louie]

the people online complaining about the water park are astonishing. Not that they are complaining, but their complaints make them sound flat out ignorant. One poster said it looks so small, but in reality, it's approximately the size of many of the larger indoor parks in the country. People constantly say the most ignorant comment since the dawn of time: "why not use that money to fix the roads?" Like, which roads are so bad that we should forego building something worthwhile to draw in tourism dollars (that would also help pay for roads) for the next 20+ years or longer? The general public is so damn dumb sometimes, it is astounding.

The only comments worth reading online are in this forum lol. The local news comment sections are |expletive| insane.

[thenewguy]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. When stothert was pushing to get the fields built for youth sports, people didn't understand that those kinds of things draw people in from the region and they spend money here. It's not just a pet project: cities need those things to keep growing. The same people bitching about roads are the ones that also say there's nothing to do here, or the things that we do offer aren't free/nearly free.

[skinzfan23]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. When stothert was pushing to get the fields built for youth sports, people didn't understand that those kinds of things draw people in from the region and they spend money here. It's not just a pet project: cities need those things to keep growing. The same people bitching about roads are the ones that also say there's nothing to do here, or the things that we do offer aren't free/nearly free.

I feel like I spend every day of my life trying to sell these projects to people for that very reason. In regards to Bellevue Bay specifically, look at GWL in KC. The actual waterpark part of the building isn't very big. What makes it look big is the lodge/hotel. Keep in mind, Bellevue is supposed to have 2 hotels attached to the waterpark. I am thinking we might hear some more info on that 10/1/26. I do know that the Homewood Suites hotel is supposed to be part of the project according to earlier documents and could be somewhere in the range of 5-8 stories and should have about 25 more rooms than the one downtown.

[CBJason]

the people online complaining about the water park are astonishing. Not that they are complaining, but their complaints make them sound flat out ignorant. One poster said it looks so small, but in reality, it's approximately the size of many of the larger indoor parks in the country. People constantly say the most ignorant comment since the dawn of time: "why not use that money to fix the roads?" Like, which roads are so bad that we should forego building something worthwhile to draw in tourism dollars (that would also help pay for roads) for the next 20+ years or longer? The general public is so damn dumb sometimes, it is astounding.

To be fair, even as I'm a proponent, I've felt the pics didn't do justice for the actual size of it. It kept seeming small to me as well and I've been to a few of these types of waterparks.

[Brad]

I saw it in person for the first time last weekend. The size seemed about what I was expecting, but what really surprised me was how close to the highway it was. For some reason I thought it was a lot further west.

[skinzfan23]

I saw it in person for the first time last weekend.

Did you happen to get any good pics of it?

[Brad]

I saw it in person for the first time last weekend.

Did you happen to get any good pics of it?

No we were heading down to Auburn for a birthday party and just quickly passed it on the way and then it was dark on the way home.

[Linkin5]

I will say I was also sort of surprised the building wasn’t larger but my frame of reference for seeing indoor waterparks in person is very limited so that’s probably more on me.

People will complain about literally anything, especially when it comes to development and civic related projects. People complained about the arena, about the downtown parks, about the pedestrian bridge, about the downtown ballpark, about zoo renovations, etc, and they are all popular now. Just let them complain they’ll mostly all come around.

[Brad]

People will complain about literally anything, especially when it comes to development and civic related projects. People complained about the arena, about the downtown parks, about the pedestrian bridge, about the downtown ballpark, about zoo renovations, etc, and they are all popular now. Just let them complain they’ll mostly all come around.

Exactly, it gets so old. I have never changed my notifications for the Grow Omaha Facebook page, so literally every single comment on the page still make my phone buzz...

Between, the people who think every single thing Omaha builds is going to raise their taxes (even though they have clearly never even looked at the breakdown on their tax bill), to the people who comment on every single urban project "Where are they going to park!?!?", to the conspiracy theories, to the people who are just eternally negative, social media gets really really old some days!

Oh and the anti TIF people who have NO CLUE how TIF actually works... Put down the keyboard and educate yourself.

[meliketrains]

Visiting our local subreddit for discussion on new projects/developments is an exercise in anger management. You'll see people from every background, political stance, socioeconomic status, etc. rally around their distrust and hatred of the new. The streetcar is simultaneously a fraudulent program to enrich developers, an evil plan by nameless politicians (they can't name any) to displace poor people, and a tourist trap gimmick that will only be used by homeless people. And yes, I know sometimes it's goomba fallacy, but not always.

One of my social circles is full of corporate lawyers, policy analyst, business peeps, and even they have this weird jaded view of it based on conspiracy theories and logical fallacies. It's kind of shocking how little people know about the systems and processes they are theoretically supposed to be a part of.

[skinzfan23]

Apparently the Bellevue city council just approved an additional $50 Million in bonds to fund construction of the waterpark. This is on top of the original $60 Million. I had a feeling this is what would happen when you look at costs of other waterparks this size.

[OmahaRedWing]

I think this will be an absolutely great addition to the metro area. That being said, I do think it's going to be partially paid for by Bellevue taxpayers in the end. To be fair I thought that was a good possibility before I even knew this was going to jumb in price and require additional bonds.

[skinzfan23]

I agree on your points, just crazy that its now $110 Million just like that and they keep passing without any other vote other than city council. At this point, kinda like the streetcar, better to just go forward and progress.

[ita]

Initially, after reading about the second bond issuance taking this over $100 million, I was thinking this is going to end up like Ralston Arena. However, as I think about it more, I think this will turn out OK for the local taxpayer. The City can pay off these bonds with both general sales tax throughout the City (1.5%), but the City believes the occupation tax collected from the water park (1.5%) will be able to pay the bonds back. Unlike Ralston Arena, the water park is open 365 days a year and provides something unique to the region. GWL in KC is a great value for families, but is dwarfed by Bellevue's water park. The next closet really large indoor water park is where, Wisconsin Dells? I could see this being as popular during the colder season as it will be during summer vacation. We'll see though!

[skinzfan23]

I am guessing that it won't be open quite 365 based on Epic Waters in TX (they are closed Mon and Tues currently), but pretty close. Probably around 250-300 days per year.

I still hope to hear some other info on Oct 1st, as they have previously said. My guess is maybe releasing the hotel renderings or at least the slide design/layout.

[ita]

I am guessing that it won't be open quite 365 based on Epic Waters in TX (they are closed Mon and Tues currently), but pretty close. Probably around 250-300 days per year.

I still hope to hear some other info on Oct 1st, as they have previously said. My guess is maybe releasing the hotel renderings or at least the slide design/layout.

Point taken. I wonder if the City can use any Good Life District related taxes to pay for the water park and not just those collected at the water park? I want to say yes, but have not looked into it.

That would be great to get an update on the connected hotel. Apparently the City has additional updates, but just is not ready to announce.