Manatee considers water park

Manatee County will consider bringing a regional-type water park facility, complete with a roller coaster and a wave pool, to East County.

Commissioners today considered a request by the Central Economic Development Center, a Bradenton nonprofit, for a roughly $20 million facility to be constructed at Tom Bennett Park.

"My first thought about this is Tom Bennett Park is not fully utilized the way we'd hoped," Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said. "I think this is a great opportunity for Manatee County to have a water park. We're in Florida. This would be a great asset."

Commissioners directed staff to draft a request for proposals for a water park. The park site would operate under a long-term lease.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].