Sailfish Splash Park has been a money-earner for Martin county Taxpayers, one of the only positive revenue county-run waterparks in the nation.
Sailfish Splash was built with $9 million collected by impact fees– a fee paid by developers to offset the cost of new growth.
The Parks director is now asking for another $1.2 million dollars to expand the county waterpark again.
County attorneys and commissioners agree it is an accurate use of impact fee dollars according to state statute.
The park already Features a lazy river, two 4-story waterslides, a 7,300-square foot water playground with jets, sprays, slides and a 300-gallon “dump bucket.” Now one possible idea for expansion is a triple or even quadruple-in-the-dark waterslide to bring a new audience here–teenagers.
It won’t happen overnight, the planning and permitting take a year so hopefully the new slides will show up by the summer of 2017.
Martin County Commissioners unanimously approved the plans to go ahead with the waterpark expansion Tuesday.