Water Park Is Proposed Near Escondido : County Panel Wants More Details on Plan for 4 Lakes, Wave Machine

If Bert Morrow’s dream becomes reality, there will be surfing nearthis inland community.

Morrow proposes to build a 20-acre water theme park with a South Pacific motif north of Escondido and adjacent to Lawrence Welk Village.

Plans for “Waterfun Paradise” were presented Thursday to the county Planning and Environmental Review Board, where county officials greeted it with raised eyebrows and requests for more information.

Morrow wants to build the water park along Champagne Boulevard north of Welk’s retirement community on land that now is a quarter horse ranch. The theme park would contain four lakes, including one equipped with a machine capable of producing 3- to 4-foot waves suitable for surfmat and bellyboard surfing, he said.

Morrow, a Carlsbad resident, said he has hired a Denver architect who has designed 31 water parks in other cities.

County planner Mary Willis told the planning board that more details were needed to judge the project’s effect on the rural area north of Escondido along Interstate 15. She suggested that Morrow supply more specifics to the county, as well as to residents of Lawrence Welk Village, south of the proposed site, and Circle R Ranch to the north.

Morrow said concern over the theme park’s effects on surrounding areas is unwarranted. Discussions with Lawrence Welk officials about the project produced “positive and enthusiastic response,” he said.

However, four residents of the retirement community contacted Thursday said they had heard nothing about Morrow’s plans, and three said they were opposed because of the noise and traffic an amusement park would bring to the quiet, rural area.

Bob Diaz, village manager, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

County staff members said they need more time and details to estimate the traffic and noise from the project. They also expressed concern about plans to change the course of Moosa Creek, which runs through the property, and asked Morrow to produce plans for handling floodwaters from the stream that, county engineers warned, would inundate nearly all of the property in a major, 100-year flood.

Art Scotese of the county Public Works Department said the project would require approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency because it is in the path, or floodway, of the stream. Federal and county regulations prohibit buildings or other structures that would impede the flow of floodwater, Scotese said.

The water park proposal includes a hillside water slide, the manufactured-wave lagoon, a children’s pool, an adult pool and an activity pool, Morrow said. Also planned are a restaurant with outdoor seating and a picnic area.

Chris Rockway, project engineer, said that he saw no major obstacles to resolving traffic or flood control problems.

Architect Jay Hawkins said visual impact of the water park “will be one of open space and park land” that should not disturb neighbors. Between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors are expected on weekdays, Hawkins said.

Planning board members voted to continue Morrow’s request for a major use permit until Oct. 17, when specifics of the project will be discussed.