Water park with surfing, skiing, wakeboarding, more coming to Gilbert

PHOENIX – Life will be a beach in the East Valley starting next year.

The Strand @ Gilbert, billed as an innovative water park resort, is scheduled to open in summer 2020 at Higley and Queen Creek roads.

Gilbert’s first recreational water park will feature a sand beach, surfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, inflatable play structures, bungalows, cabanas and a full-service restaurant and bar.

“We are excited to bring this new amenity to not only Gilbert but to the entire region,” Mayor Jenn Daniels said in a press release.

“We look forward to working with our partners on The Strand @ Gilbert to ensure that we all have a fun and safe place to play and enjoy for all ages year-round.”

BREAKING NEWS: #GilbertAZ is getting its first water park! 🎉

We’re excited to partner with The Strand @ Gilbert to open a 25-acre state of the art recreational water park at Gilbert Regional Park, which is expected to open in Summer 2020. 🏄

More ➡️ https://t.co/4jyVMxMdJg pic.twitter.com/kRNSD18Als

— Gilbert, Arizona (@GilbertYourTown) February 22, 2019

The complex will be built on 25 acres at the sprawling new Gilbert Regional Park, the first phase of which is set to open in September.

“The Strand @ Gilbert has worked tirelessly with numerous different manufacturers throughout the world to bring the newest and most innovative technologies in water sports activity and amenities to Gilbert Regional Park,” company CEO John McLaughlin said in the release.

The facility will have three lagoons – one for surfing, a cable park for skiing and wakeboarding and an inflatable water park — and a building housing a restaurant, bar and retail shop.

Gilbert’s website says the town isn’t spending any money on the water park’s development and it won’t impact the water supply.

The Gilbert location is the first of 10 water resorts Strand plans to open nationwide by 2030, according to the company’s website.

No other sites have been announced.

Follow @kstonezone