Waukee Residents-Vote YES on new water park

[Senolcyc]

Just another thing for those who don't have kids to help subsidize.

Indirect benefits all around. An attraction like a new water park makes the community more desirable. That raises property values and increases home equity. A new water park bring people from other communities in and they spend money, at nearby businesses or at the park itself. Etc. etc. If people make every decision based on narrow self-centered factors, nothing gets done. And that most certainly happens in way too many communities. You'll recognize those communities by their declining population and property values.

[Boxerdaddy]

Only a person with kids could think like this.


These are the same people that think taking their 2 year olds to Vegas is a good idea.

Not at the table Carlos!

[dmclone]

Indirect benefits all around. An attraction like a new water park makes the community more desirable. That raises property values and increases home equity. A new water park bring people from other communities in and they spend money, at nearby businesses or at the park itself. Etc. etc. If people make every decision based on narrow self-centered factors, nothing gets done. And that most certainly happens in way too many communities. You'll recognize those communities by their declining population and property values.

There is a fine line. Waukee is not having a problem with growth and very little of it's success has to do with things like water parks. If I was moving to Waukee a water park would be about 199th on the list of important features. Low property taxes would be a lot more important. If Waukee is an attractive enough community than a private company should be able to come in and make money with a water park.

[Three4Cy]

Waukee schools growth has slowed down this year. They built new schools to spread kids out, but the growth isn't nearly as fast. They don't have enough kids to add another kindergarten section at a couple of the schools. The pool will pass so it is a double whammy for some since dallas county property taxes went up in some areas, like mine did.

[isuno1fan]

My property taxes declined a couple hundred bucks this year due to a lower assessment. Kind of surprised anyone's went up.

I also live in Dallas County.

[Senolcyc]

There is a fine line. Waukee is not having a problem with growth and very little of it's success has to do with things like water parks. If I was moving to Waukee a water park would be about 199th on the list of important features. Low property taxes would be a lot more important. If Waukee is an attractive enough community than a private company should be able to come in and make money with a water park.

Nothing will stagnate a community more quickly and more completely than an active chapter of CAVE - Citizens Against Virtually Everything.

[CloneIce]

Nothing will stagnate a community more quickly and more completely than an active chapter of CAVE - Citizens Against Virtually Everything.

Yep... considering this is only an $8 million bond (yes, $8M is fairly cheap for construction projects financed by bonds), it can't be too much of a tax increase. Anyone have the actual numbers this would increase property taxes by?

[isuno1fan]

Yep... considering this is only an $8 million bond (yes, $8M is fairly cheap for construction projects financed by bonds), it can't be too much of a tax increase. Anyone have the actual numbers this would increase property taxes by?

It's about $100/yr if you have a $200k house.

[CloneIce]

It's about $100/yr if you have a $200k house.

Not bad at all.

[dmclone]

Does the 8 million bond include costs 5 years down the road when it's not making money?

The more I think about this the more I'm actually going to support Waukee building a water park. This will only help the home values and bring in more jobs to Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines, etc.

[dmclone]

BTW-I consider a park a lot different than a water park. A water park is a business. I have no problem with cities upgrading roads, parks, police, schools, etc if they are needed.

[CycloneYoda]

Only a person with kids could think like this.


These are the same people that think taking their 2 year olds to Vegas is a good
idea.

Maybe back when Vegas was actually a wonderful, dangerous town, you would have a point. Now much of Vegas is geared towards family, making 2 year olds part of the target demographic.

But you can go ahead and pretend that Vegas is still that sinful place made famous by vice.

[dmclone]

Maybe back when Vegas was actually a wonderful, dangerous town, you would have a point. Now much of Vegas is geared towards family, making 2 year olds part of the target demographic.

But you can go ahead and pretend that Vegas is still that sinful place made famous by vice.

Never said anything about it being sinful. Just doesn't seem like a great place to bring kids but it's your kids so do what you like. This is why I stay away from places like Circus Circus.

[Jnecker4cy]

There is a fine line. Waukee is not having a problem with growth and very little of it's success has to do with things like water parks. If I was moving to Waukee a water park would be about 199th on the list of important features. Low property taxes would be a lot more important. If Waukee is an attractive enough community than a private company should be able to come in and make money with a water park.

Until this year there was no privately owned water park in Des Moines. Adventureland built one, but would not have without the amuesment park. White Water University has been out of business for a number of years, they did not make it. What makes you think a stand alone park in Waukee would make it. The Water Parks or aquatic centers these cities are building are not what most people consider Water Parks. Maybe a little lazy river, small kids area, big pool and maybe 5-6 water slides. That is small for a Water park. A true water park would include wave pools, 15-20 slides many small kids and tots are ect, you are probably looking to 35-40 million to build one of those, even the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells only has one true outdoor water park, all the rest have both indoor and outdoor facilities to bring in money all year. My guess is a private company does not see Des Moines as a viable market for a outdoor only Water Park, now a complex with indoor/outdoor and a hotel maybe 75-80 million we will see.

[dmclone]

Until this year there was no privately owned water park in Des Moines. Adventureland built one, but would not have without the amuesment park. White Water University has been out of business for a number of years, they did not make it. What makes you think a stand alone park in Waukee would make it. The Water Parks or aquatic centers these cities are building are not what most people consider Water Parks. Maybe a little lazy river, small kids area, big pool and maybe 5-6 water slides. That is small for a Water park. A true water park would include wave pools, 15-20 slides many small kids and tots are ect, you are probably looking to 35-40 million to build one of those, even the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells only has one true outdoor water park, all the rest have both indoor and outdoor facilities to bring in money all year. My guess is a private company does not see Des Moines as a viable market for a outdoor only Water Park, now a complex with indoor/outdoor and a hotel maybe 75-80 million we will see.

Not saying a company could make it work which is what concerns me. Maybe I'll be wrong and this will be great for waukee and property taxes will go down and resale values will skyrocket. We'll have to wait and see. I'm just happy it's not my taxes going up.