GILBERT, AZ — Next summer, families in Gilbert will have a new option to beat the summer heat and stay cool.
The Town of Gilbert announced Friday a private-public partnership with Strand Resorts to build and operate "The Strand @ Gilbert," a 25-acre water park that promises "water activities for every age." It will be part of Gilbert Regional Park, the 272-acre multi-phased park that is under construction near Queen Creek and Higley roads.
Water activities include cable-based wake boarding, skiing and knee boarding; an inflatable water park; a surf lagoon; an "Aqua Park" challenge course; a sand beach and swimming areas. Plans also call for an indoor arcade, a restaurant and bar, floating tubes and kayaks, canoeing and paddle boarding.
It is expected to open during the summer of 2020.
BREAKING NEWS: #GilbertAZ is getting its first water park! 🎉
— Gilbert, Arizona (@GilbertYourTown) February 22, 2019
We’re excited to partner with The Strand @ Gilbert to open a 25-acre state of the art recreational water park at Gilbert Regional Park, which is expected to open in Summer 2020. 🏄
More ➡️ https://t.co/4jyVMxMdJg pic.twitter.com/kRNSD18Als
The first phase of Gilbert's Regional Park is set to open in September and will include a playground, tot playground, splash pad, and restrooms. That project broke ground in May. Read more.
On its website, Gilbert said the project will not cost the town any money as it is being built, maintained and operated by Strand Resort. The company is also responsible for supplying its own water, which uses "recovered water credits delivered through the Town's potable water system," the website said.
John McLaughlin, president and CEO of The Strand @ Gilbert, said in an email to ABC15 that this park is the "first on a global scale of a project of this size." According to The Strand website, they hope to open 10 locations by 2030 to be the "largest chain of resort style cable wakeboard and artificial surf facilities in the United States."
"We are extremely excited to work with such an amazing partner and community to create this unique sports resort destination for Gilbert and the surrounding region," he said in a statement.
McLaughlin said there are other locations being considered, but due to nondisclosure agreements, he wasn't able to provide additional information.
