Rendering from Rhode Island Water Park Facebook Page.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The former manager of Rocky Point Amusement Park has a new summertime attraction planned for Rhode Island.
Rhode Island native David Cascioli, who now resides in Tampa, says he plans to use his 20 years of experience managing Rocky Point and other parks across the globe to bring Rhode Island a brand new water park as of 2016.
Already the idea is getting traction on social media. A Facebook page for “Rhode Island Water Park” was created on July 21 and already has nearly 4,000 fans. Earlier this week the page posted a promotional video that starts with a question: “Another summer in Rhode Island and nothing to do for recreation…but what if?” It then shows people in bathing suits zipping down water slides.
Cascioli says the park would feature 12 slides off two slide towers of 65 and 75 feet. There would also be an interactive children’s area, a 20,000 square foot wave pool and a lazy river.
Cascioli won’t disclose precisely where the park will be, but says it’s on a large parcel of land in Johnston off 295. He says the park will be a part of a larger, mixed-use development.
“I can’t put it into words, it means a lot,” Cascioli told WPRO News Thursday about his plans. He says he’s been dreaming up the idea for a local waterpark for more than 10 years.
“I’ve seen what happened after the demise of Rocky Point, I’ve seen how attached people are to it,” he said.
Cascioli worked as a manager at Rocky Point from 1974 to 1994, and then took his skills to waterparks in Dubai, Michigan, Jamaica and India.
Entry to the new Rhode Island water park will range from $21 to $35 and parking will be free.
Cascioli says he’s being cautious about a timeline for completion, but hopes the park will be open by 2016. The park will likely be open 90 to 100 days a year.
“The state of Rhode Island has always had multiple amusement areas. At one point there was Crescent Park, Rocky Point and Enchanted Forest, all operating at the same time,” he said. “Now you go from that type of density of recreation to not having anything at all in the state…you can see where it’s a big letdown.”
News of the proposed park was first reported by the Warwick Beacon.
|
An award-winning journalist and theater critic – and a performer at heart. Kim covers everything from politics and breaking news to food and theater. Kim is the weekday afternoon news anchor on 630 WPRO. |
Kim KalunianMore Stuff You\'ll ♥
