If you’re feeling the heat in Derby this summer, the city could cool you down in more ways than one. Plans were announced in April for a summer groundbreaking for Derby Shores, a $160 million private development that would add another aquatic experience to the rapidly growing Wichita suburb. The development would add an approximately 4-acre man-made lagoon with a beach and water slides, a 300-unit apartment complex, an RV/glamping park, a 50-unit senior living facility and other developments at 63rd Street South and Rock Road. The development would be a mile from the city’s long-standing municipal waterpark, Rock River Rapids. Rock River Rapids opened in 2004 after residents passed a half-cent sales tax, and the waterpark celebrated its 20th anniversary this summer. The city discussed potential repairs and improvements in a June City Council meeting for the waterpark, including plans for short-term repairs to the children’s pool area, pump systems and additional shades. For the long term, the city highlighted investing in rebranding the park and adding new technology. “But it also has to be rethought to meet the new generation’s desires and goals,” Derby public works director Robert Mendoza said in an interview. “… What was exciting 20 years ago is not so exciting to a lot of the teenagers that we have in Derby today.” Costs for short-term repairs ranged from $100,000 to $300,000, and $15 to $20 million for long-term investment in rebranding and innovation. City Council will authorize Tuesday $17,200 in replacements for the waterpark. Derby Shores is being developed by a group that includes Wichita businessman Dave Murfin, Kansas City-based STAR bonds developer Rick Worner, and Genesis Health Clubs owner Rodney Steven II. A quarter of the project’s cost, $32.4 million, is being funded by STAR bonds, a mechanism for Kansas municipalities to fund major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects by allowing them to recapture some of the state sales tax revenue created within the area. The other 75% of funding will be private investment, the group said in April. The city approved the STAR bond project plan in May 2022, followed by a sale of the bonds in June. Murfin and Steven did not respond to the WBJ requests for comment. Derby city manager Kiel Mangus said residents have asked about similarities between the two projects since the approval of Derby Shores two years ago. Mangus said the city waterpark is a cheaper option — $10 for day passes with season passes ranging from $60 to $75. According to a private 2022 feasibility study that was part of the STAR bonds application, Derby Shores could cost $45 per person in daily admission costs. No season pass projection was made. “It’s like comparing apples to oranges,” Mangus said. The projects, he said, target different population demographics. He said Rock River Rapids is a community recreational waterpark run by the city’s recreation commission and is intended for Derby residents. According to the waterpark’s 2023 annual report, 70% of its around 78,000 visitors last year were Derby residents, with 30% coming from Wichita, Haysville and other nearby cities. The city generated approximately $758,000 in revenue by September. Derby Shores, meanwhile, is a private investment planned to attract out-of-state tourists with the help of STAR bonds. The feasibility study showed that Derby Shores is expected to host 248,000 annual visitors — around 75,000 in its first year after construction — with 50% coming from more than 100 miles away and 40% from another state. The development is also projected to generate $3.4 million in revenue. Mangus said while both destinations impact taxpayers, Rock River Rapids solely uses sales tax dollars of the city whereas Derby Shores will be using state sales tax dollars. Mangus said that Derby Shores has yet to break ground. He said the city is awaiting design plans after introducing site plans earlier this year. “I think it is a good thing that they could cohabitate functionally in our community because I don’t believe our audiences are the same,” Mangus said of the Derby Shores project.”
Source: Wichita Business Journal
