Grand Prairie will add an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park with a retractable roof to its park system this December and an even larger rec center opens next February.

Plans also are in the works for an all access playground that could open in the summer.

So, it’s no wonder that the city’s parks department won a gold medal from the National Recreation and Park Association in the 150,000 to 400,000 population category.

“Only one city in America gets that,” said Rick Herold, director of parks and recreation. “It’s a great tribute to the whole city. It’s all your citizens engaged in parks and recreation services. It’s the highest honor in our profession. We feel extremely proud.”

“It’s the highest honor in our profession. We feel extremely proud.” 
Rick Herold

Grand Prairie has won the award twice, the last time in 2008. It will be another five years before the city is eligible. Grand Prairie was also a finalist in 2016.

The water park, called Epic Waters, the recreation center, called The Epic, and the playground, called PlayGrand Adventures, will join The Summit, a senior activity center that opened last year. All the facilities are located in the Grand Central area on Texas 161 between Arkansas Lane and Warrior Trail.

The area is about to go through an economic development boom with an Ikea, dozens of new restaurants, retail, and hotels planned. A Walmart Supercenter just opened at Arkansas Lane and Texas 161.

“We’re right in the epicenter of the Metroplex, 7 million people,” Mayor Ron Jensen said.

Grand Prairie showed off the water park’s retractable roof in front of media, contractors, and city employees Tuesday. [Photo: Nicholas Sakelaris]

EPIC WATERS SHOWS OFF ITS HIGH-TECH ROOF

Retractable roofs are usually reserved for $1 billion stadiums like the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium or the Texas Rangers’ future Globe Life Field.

Keeping with the “epic” theme of the park, Grand Prairie decided to build a retractable roof water park.

On Oct. 3, Jensen flipped the ceremonial lever that started opening the 40 enormous blue panels that make up the roof in front of media, contractors, and city employees. The panels slide slowly with a whirring sound and take a few minutes to fully retract.

The ability to open the roof saves energy over the long-run because the park will use less air conditioning and dehumidification on hot, humid days. Long-term, the building will provide energy savings of 27 percent versus traditional indoor waterparks.

Long-term, the building will provide energy savings of 27 percent versus traditional indoor waterparks.

As long as the temperature is above 30 degrees, the roof could open periodically to let the humidity escape.

The facility will be open year-round with the largest indoor lazy river, 11 different slides, an outdoor wave pool, and a double surf simulator.

The slides are various heights, with four identical slides for racing.

The highest and most intense slide will be the 72-foot Lasso Loop. Riders start out in a sealed capsule standing almost straight up. A countdown begins and the trap door opens, sending the rider down 53 feet before they shoot back up at 45 mph and then loop around to reach the end of the slide. The whole ride takes 4 or 5 seconds. (Here’s a video of the slide in action at another water park.)

Two of the slides are designed for inner tubes.

The 650-foot lazy river will have wave action in some areas to keep it interesting. It’s one of the longest lazy rivers in Texas.  

The facility also will have a 6,000-square-foot arcade, restaurant, and bar. The 10,000-square-foot wave pool will have its own bar, at Jensen’s request. The wave pool will be outdoors and won’t open until the spring, Herold said.

The only indoor water park competition will be the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, but that facility requires people to stay the night in the hotel, Herold said.

The Epic Waters offers regular daily admission with discounts for Grand Prairie residents.

The city already has reserved hundreds of birthday parties and sold season passes.

Grand Prairie owns the facility, American Resort Management operates it. The roof was designed by OpenAire and the slides by WhiteWater West.

Epic Waters will be open year-round with the largest indoor lazy river, 11 different slides, an outdoor wave pool, and a double surf simulator. [Photo: Nicholas Sakelaris]

TAKING REC CENTERS TO A NEW LEVEL

Like the water park, Grand Prairie wanted to reimagine what a recreation center should be in the 21st century. The Epic is a 128,000-square-foot facility with a full gym, $1 million in fitness equipment, a futsal court, an adventure track (think American Ninja Warrior), and crossfit area.

There also will be a 20-foot library book vending machine and a cafe.

The facility will have its own swimming area for exercise and rehabilitation with a hot tub, lap area, and underwater treadmills and trampolines.

It’s got something for everyone with audio/visual studios, an art studio, and an artist in residence.

Grand Prairie is raising money now for the PlayGrand Adventures playground that will be accessible for everyone, including children with disabilities.

“We’re very excited about that part of the project,” Herold said.

Construction could start in the next few months with a scheduled opening in the summer.

Epic Waters rendering courtesy of City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department

Epic Waters rendering courtesy of City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department