New YMCA water park would be good addition in Lake Wylie

A proposed outdoor water park for the Upper Palmetto YMCA in Lake Wylie strikes us as a good example of cooperative planning and a good use of York County’s hospitality tax dollars.

The water park would be a joint venture between the Clover school district and Upper Palmetto YMCA, which already are partnering to build a new aquatic center near Crowders Creek Elementary School. The center will feature an indoor pool and other facilities, but a water park would complement an outdoor Olympic-size pool planned by the school district.

The district committed to paying $14 million for the project when voters approved a bond referendum in March. But that money won’t pay for $3.5 million worth of outdoor features.

The district hopes to pay for the outdoor pool with reserve funds, but not the water park, which has an estimated cost of $1.7 million. The $1 million from the hospitality tax would cover more than half the cost, with the Y making up the difference.

Supporters of the plan, including YMCA director Frank “Moe” Bell, think the outdoor pool and water park would be a major regional facility, attracting swimmers for at least four large meets a year. Each meet could be expected to bring in around 700 participants for the two-day event, Bell said.

Bell estimates that visitors would spend $1.57 million a year while attending the meets. Lisa Meadows, director of the Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said that might be conservative.

The hospitality tax comes from a 2-percent charge on food and drink in unincorporated areas of the county, such as Lake Wylie. State law requires that the proceeds be used only on projects that generate tourism.

While that leaves some latitude regarding the type of projects that receive revenues, it does limit how the money can be spent. The water park, however, appears to meet all the essential requirements.

The aquatic center itself will be a great addition to the community. It can be used for swim meets, exercise programs for residents and teaching children how to swim.

The outdoor pool and water park would be a good match, helping ensure that the facilities are used year ’round. And, of course, the outdoor features would bring visitors to the county for years to come, potentially generating millions of dollars worth of commerce.

The York County Council will have the final word on whether to award the $1 million in tax money to the project. The advisory committee has unanimously approved the bequest and has recommended that it be doled out in increments of $125,000 a year over eight years.

We think the plan has real merit, not just for the school district and Lake Wylie, but also for the entire county.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 9:40 PM with the headline "New YMCA water park would be good addition in Lake Wylie."