Water park plan gets OK from mayor's cabinet

Acontroversial water park proposal for The Forks in Winnipeg has unanimously passed through the mayor's cabinet.

The 50,000-square-foot,water park and hotel development, estimated at $75 million, is being proposed by Canalta Development and WaterFun Products.

Despite hearing from a number of delegates opposed to the plan, including some city councillors, the executive policy committee gave it a thumbs up on Wednesday.

The EPCis known as the mayor's cabinet because the members are handpicked by the mayor. Those councillors who spoke against it were not on EPC.

Mayor Sam Katz recused himself from the vote to avoid conflict-of-interest concerns.

The city-owned land where the water park would be built is located across the street from Shaw Park, the home of the Goldeyes baseball team.

Katz owns the Goldeyes.

And the agent for the water park developer is Shindico Realty, whose top brass have been Katz's longtime business partners in the Goldeyes.

The recommendation from EPC will now go to a full meeting of City Council next week for a final vote.

If council approves the plan, Canalta will receive a $7-million city grant.