We just got back from what I’m calling our pseudo-European vacation: first we visited family in Canada, where everyone pretends to be British/French, and then we visited more family in Frankenmuth, Michigan, a tourist destination that tries to create the ambience of a Bavarian village with “Willkommen” signs and German cheese shops, restaurants, and pubs. Their MacDonald’s even has a “Play Platz.”

We had a lot of fun, even though we were in the car with our 7-month-old and 6-year-old for record periods of time. The best part of the trip for our 6-year-old was the day pass to Splash Village, pictured above.

So why can’t we build an indoor water park in Rhode Island? This has been done in several locations in the midwest, and there is also a big one in Erie, Pennsylvania called Splash Lagoon. I believe there is one planned for New Jersey, but there is not one in all of New England. Hyannis has a “wave pool” at the Cape Codder Resort, but this is not in the same league. And of course we have outdoor water slides, but no indoor water parks.

I tried to bring this idea up about a year ago to some business development bigwigs in the state. Most people seemed mildly amused, but not seriously interested in the idea. This probably had a lot to do with the fact that little old me, an unknown social worker, was suggesting it, instead of Aram Garabedian or Steve Laffey or some other deep-pocketed politically-connected person. But here’s my opinion and rationale, for what it’s worth: building an indoor water park is much better than building another casino. It is family-friendly, helps enhance pro-social, pro-active-lifestyle behavior, and can make money for a community. Yes, it costs money to build, but the investment seems to pay off, as witnessed by the Wisconsin Dells, which can’t seem to build enough of them.

One potential problem, though: water supply. I know this has been an issue in some communities in Rhode Island, and is a growing problem in the US in general. A feasibility study would need to encompass studying the water supply of any potential development spot for an indoor water park in Rhode Island.