If Essex Town Council approves and it meets all the provincial and federal requirements, the region's first outdoor inflatable water park could open at Colchester Beach.
Officials at Aqua City approached the town about entering a lease at 87 Jackson Street in Colchester to operate a park.
Town officials asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry if it is permitted, and after months of research, it confirmed it was permissible.
Aqua City will need a barge to put concrete weights on the floor of Lake Erie so it can anchor the inflatables and buoys. The buoys will mark the perimeter of the park. Chains will secure the inflatables so they don't float away. They could be removed if needed.
The company will also need a tent on the beachfront to register patrons, store equipment, and hold safety briefings. It will also house emergency phone equipment and first aid equipment.
All participants must wear a lifejacket inside the park. Children under five won't be allowed in, and an adult must accompany children under ten.
The town will pay half the cost of a safety audit conducted by the LifeSaving Society. It establishes aquatic safety standards in Canada. The audit will ensure Aqua City has enough staff and equipment and complies with the Inflatable Waterpark Safety Standards of Ontario, the Waterfront Safety Standards of Ontario, and the Inflatable Water Park Safety Standard of Canada.
During the first year of operation, Aqua City will pay the Town of Essex ten per cent of its sales. After that, remuneration will be negotiated annually when the company renews its lease.