Temecula Valley is getting closer to slip and slide summers as construction plans are announced for Wild Rivers Temecula.
Temecula Valley is getting closer to slip and slide summers as construction plans are announced for Wild Rivers Temecula. (Jerry/Flickr/Creative Commons)
Developer Mike Riedel with Wild Rivers has said financing for the entire project has been secured. He expects to begin construction on the slated lot at Diaz Road and Dendy Parkway at the beginning of March.
It was hoped that construction would begin last October, but getting the project financed proved difficult.
Temecula Mayor Michael Naggar and Council Member Chuck Washington have been heading a subcommittee working on the Wild Rivers project for the past several years.
“It wasn’t a surprise that they had trouble getting their construction financed considering the economy we’ve been facing,” Washington said. “But I think we’re turning a corner. I’ve noticed that credit is easing and people are beginning to look at lending money to viable businesses.”
The park is slated to open in May 2014. The 20 acre lot was sold to Wild Rivers in May 2012 for $2.34 million for construction of the water park.
“It was initially planned on Ynez, but later moved over to Diaz,” Washington said. “This will help with the disposition of that property. And it will be a great amenity for our community that experiences a lot of warm days.”
In addition to construction jobs, the water park will also create about 300 jobs for area youth.
“It will provide a lot of jobs for young people,” Washington said. “Jobs that fit their kind of lifestyles, which means something not necessarily full time or permanent, but summer jobs.”
Washington said the city of Temecula’s unemployment is down again this year, which bodes well for further improvement as opportunities arise like those that will be found at Wild Rivers.
And, the council members hope the water park will also become a regional entertainment venue, bringing further commerce to the area.
“It will be one more thing on the laundry list of things to do in Temecula that draws people in,” Washington said. “We have Old Town, the mall, the wine country, golf and now a great water park. It’s pretty exciting to have a project like this in Temecula.”
Jennifer Dean is a local writer and regular contributor to SWRNN.
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