The owner of Osoyoos Water Sports moved a big step closer to opening a large ‘Aqua Park’ near Gyro Beach on Osoyoos Lake following a presentation to Town of Osoyoos council Monday.
Randy Gallagher informed council about his plan to install what would be the largest park of its kind in Canada.
Town council voted to approve Gallagher’s proposal to rent personal watercraft, stand up paddle boards, banana boats and other equipment from Gyro Beach for a one-year period starting in May.
The proposal to open an Aqua Park would involve a separate agreement between Gallagher and the town.
“The largest Aqua Park in the country right now is located at Deerhurst resort in Ontario … we would like to lay claim to being the largest park of its kind in Canada,” said Gallagher.
Gallagher noted the park he is proposing wouldn’t take up a huge amount of space on the lake, but is still bigger than any other park he knows of in Canada.
The Aqua Park would include the installation of several large inflatable devices that users of all ages could bounce or slide down that would be securely anchored, said Gallagher.
There would be a section of the park open to teenagers and adults and a smaller section for children ages 10 and under, said Gallagher.
The numerous inflatable devices would have to be ordered from China and that’s why he would like an answer from council as quickly as possible as he has been looking at opening the park in Osoyoos for some time, he said.
“I’ve conducted due diligence on this for more than a year-and-a-half,” he said. “ I’m ready to go.”
All of the equipment and anchors would be removed from the lake at the end of the season, he said.
Gallagher would also incur the insurance costs to operate the business.
Because a minimum of eight feet of water is needed to ensure all safety standards are met when users jump or fall off the inflatables devices and the amount of foot traffic, the Gyro Beach point is the best location on Osoyoos Lake for his proposed business, said Gallagher, who lives in Penticton.
The Aqua Park would have lifeguards on duty at all times and there would be overnight security hired to protect his investment, said Gallagher.
As the owner and operator of a shuttle service that Osoyoos Water Sports started up last summer, Gallagher said his plans would include picking up and dropping off potential users to the park from the time it opens in May until the end of September.
Because he’s looking at a substantial investment to purchase the equipment and other costs involved in opening an Aqua Park, Gallagher asked that if council approves the park that he be able to sign a three-year deal with the option to extend it for a fourth year.
With the town and numerous stakeholders committed to erecting a new pier off Gyro Beach, Gallagher said he would be more than willing to pay his fair share towards the cost of the pier.
Mayor Stu Wells said his main concern about the proposed Aqua Park is the fact so many people want to use the lake during prime tourist months that some people might object a large section of the lake being used for a park.
“There is a shortage of beach and lake,” he said. “We are big on sharing in our town. We just couldn’t take up the whole bay (near Gyro Beach) with a water park.”
Gallagher reiterated the park would feature numerous inflatable devices, but wouldn’t take up a large chunk of space.
While thousands of people swim at Gyro Beach every year, this area of the lake is not being properly utilized and his Aqua Park proposal would attract users of all ages and be a huge amenity to the town and adjacent businesses, said Gallagher.
“That beach is such a huge jewel to this community and it’s not being used,” he said.
While the town is committed to developing a long-term plan development plan for Gyro Beach that involves numerous stakeholders, that process is going to take at least a couple of years and Gallagher’s Aqua Park proposal might be one that could be tried on a temporary basis, said town chief administrative officer Barry Romanko.
“This may be the opportunity to experiment … a three to five-year window is doable,” he said.
Gallagher has committed to meeting with town staff to further discuss his proposal and the matter will be discussed again in the near future by members of council.
To be ready to open by May, Gallagher did comment he would like a final decision from council before the end of January so he could order the equipment from China and start promoting and marketing the Aqua Park.
Gallagher will pay the town $4,200 per year to operate his shuttle service and lease and rent equipment for Osoyoos Water Sports from Gyro Beach starting in May.
Meanwhile, council has approved a proposal by Gallagher to move Osoyoos Water Sports from the Nk’Mip RV Park to Gyro Beach for a one-year term with an option for a second year to be determined.
The matter was discussed by members of council in-camera during a meeting in November and details of that meeting were unveiled during Monday’s council meeting.
Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services,  said Osoyoos Water Sports will offer a water shuttle service, parasailing, banana boat rides, non-motorized boat rentals (paddle boats, kayaks, small sailboats and paddle boards), lounge chair and cabana rentals.
Council had requested staff meet with Gallagher to ensure his proposal would not interfere with other users in the park and did not become overbearing.
Gallagher assured council Monday he won’t have an excess of equipment on site, he will remove all equipment overnight and will not interfere with the use of the beach volleyball facility at Gyro Beach.
Council voted unanimously in favour of Gallagher’s proposal.