The Malaysian Pro-Sport Company is rushing to complete construction on a Water Fun Park by the end of this year, the latest date to be announced for the official opening.
According to the original schedule, the company had planned an unofficial opening ceremony last month for part of the Water Park at the Nongchan area on Khouvieng Road in Sisattanak district, but this phase has been delayed.
The company's director, Mr Patrick Anthony, told Vientiane Times last month that he had planned to have the Water Park completed, with all 11 slides, before opening to the public.
But the government had requested in the original plan that the park be opened early,
once two of the slides had been completed, to allow customers to get an early taste of what the Water Park would be offering when finished.
But Mr Anthony maintained that opening the park early would present a danger to customers, as the remaining construction would still be taking place, which is why fun-seekers will now have to wait for several more months for the park to be completely finished.
According to the manager of the Vientiane Urban Environment Project, Mr Bounchanh Keosithamma, who is coordinating the project , the government has confirmed that the first phase of the project is now about 80 percent complete, with most of the main structures in place. This week, the investor will start filling in a parking area.
However, Mr Bounchanh said the investor had now been advise d to speed up completion of the project to ensure it is finished on schedule.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed b y the Malaysian investor with the government last year, the project, which began in January this year, was set to be finished within 30 months, with the provision that the park open early once two slides were installed.
Mr Anthony explained that there had also been problems associated with documents related to imported equipment .
However, he confirmed that the work is now going much faster, and that the first phase of the project would be finished this year, so that people would be able to start using the waterslides.
According to the plans for the US$4.8 million project plan, the slides will be accompanied by restaurants, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop, as well as water features and swimming pool. There will also be a large car park, and jogging and cycling tracks, as part of the project's first phase.
The second phase will include a landscaped public park with large trees, and an area for outdoor activities such as basketball, badminton and volleyball.
The park will also contain a recreation area for Vientiane 's residents and visitors, on a site that was previously a Danish-funded natural park, wetlands preserve and water reservoir.
This investor has a 30-year concession on the land to generate a profit from the Water Park .
