Water park in Warwick? Former Rocky Point manager looks to make a splash

John Howell
Posted 10/8/15

David Cascioli, who worked as a manager at Rocky Point Amusement Park for 20 years, is still dreaming of giving Rhode Island its first water park.

Cascioli caused a bit of a splash last week when …

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Water park in Warwick? Former Rocky Point manager looks to make a splash

Posted

David Cascioli, who worked as a manager at Rocky Point Amusement Park for 20 years, is still dreaming of giving Rhode Island its first water park.

Cascioli caused a bit of a splash last week when he disclosed on Facebook that he’s talked with Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and is looking at possible locations in the city for the park, which he estimates will cost $14 million to develop. Sites were not disclosed, but the news got quickly picked up by WPRO radio reporter Kim Kalunian.

In a telephone interview Friday, Cascioli – who is living in Florida – said he doesn’t intend on repeating the mistake he made last year in announcing he was eying a site in Johnston as part of a much larger development. That news was followed by a flurry of comments and denials of any plans for the area, as well as recriminations by town fathers. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena called Cascioli’s plans “pie in the sky.”

“I never want to experience what happened last year,” Cascioli said. Johnston is no longer one of the communities he is looking at. In addition to Warwick, he said there are possible sites in Pawtucket and nearby Seekonk, although that isn’t in the state.

From Cascioli’s description, it would appear finding a spot for a water park in Warwick would be somewhat of a challenge. Ideally, he is looking for a 20-acre site with easy access to highways. His plan is to build the park in two phases. Fifteen acres would be used for an outdoor park and parking. If this proves successful, Cascioli would look to build an indoor water park on the remaining five acres.

This would be a freestanding park, which he says would be unique as indoor parks are most frequently part of a hotel development or a larger amusement facility commanding higher entrance fees.

Avedisian said Sunday he had a “long and interesting discussion” with Cascioli, and that while finding a 20-acre site could be problematic, most of the land would be for surface parking and there could be alternatives. He said city planner William DePasquale and economic development director Karen Jedson have talked with Cascioli about potential sites.

“We’ll see if he comes forward with a proposal,” Avedisian said.

Cascioli has had a long time dream of a water park. He’s visited scores of parks and knows the manufacturers of equipment and what is required to operate and make them financially successful. Assuming he was to find a site and line up the financing, Cascioli said the park could be up and running in about 60 weeks.

“I have never owned one,” Cascioli said of an amusement or water park, “I have always worked at making other peoples’ dreams reality.”

Cascioli said the basic all-day rate for a water park would be in the range of $30. He said there would be packages and specials depending on the time of year and number of people. Based on an interview earlier this year, Cascioli said he would start with a medium-sized water park comprised of a variety of rides. The centerpiece to the park would be 65-foot and 75-foot towers with slides. In all, there would be 12 slides. In addition, he has planned a 20,000-square-foot wave pool capable of producing six different wave patterns.

Cascioli said he has “an affinity for Warwick” and would love to find a location here because it is central to the state.

“Logistically, it is critically located,” he said of the city.

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