MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Some splashy fun is coming to Milledgeville!
Baldwin County is in the process of building a new water park.
It will be across from the Walter B. Williams Jr. Park, which was the site of the old Georgia State Prison.
They are clearing out the dirt and debris to make way for the new aquatic center, which will have a large pool, lazy river, water slides, splash pads and more.
County leaders say people wanted the water park in a central location in the county.
The county just selected Dyer Construction Incorporated, a company out of Milledgeville, to build the project.
The aquatic center is set to cost about $5 million.
It is currently in phase one, and county manager Carlos Tobar says he is looking forward to the continuous growth of Baldwin County.
"This process started in 2017 when the voters were asked if they wanted to pay for a water park," Tobar said.
Tobar says this will benefit kids and families, boost the local economy and provide job opportunities.
"This hopefully will help employ our youth during the summertime, and we do anticipate that we're going to get a lot of tourists a lot of visitors from the surrounding counties and so we're excited about the economic impact the project will have on our community," Tobar said.
Right across the street from the development is The Heart of Georgia Animal Care.
Tateum Conner has been working there for the past three years, and she was surprised to hear about the news.
"I think it's going to be something really good for Milledgeville to have," Conner said. "We really don't have anything like that around here and I just think it's going to be something really positive for the community. The park's right across the street and I know we're going to be really jealous watching them across the road. We're going to wish we were with them!"
Christina Washington is the medical director at The Heart of Georgia Animal Care.
Washington says they basically have a front-row seat to watch all of the construction.
"There's a lot of opportunity here for people to go and enjoy and spend money within the community," Washington said. "I think that would be a great way to kind of improve our growth as a community."
She says she is used to making the drive with her family to the Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange which is a few hours west. So she says now being able to drive at most 20 minutes for some fun in the sun is great.
"I really like the area that they chose," Washington said. "It wouldn't even be that far from downtown Milledgeville to come and it's a little bit of green space out here so it's not in town where there's not enough room for it."
The county received a $447,008 Land Water Conservation Fund Grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Tobar says the new water park should be open by Memorial Day Weekend of 2025.