Is a $160-Million Waterpark in the Future of Oneonta/Cooperstown?

(The statement below was taken from the MV500 presentation to New York State last week)

Cooperstown Destination Waterpark: A Four-Season International Attraction. Currently, Otsego County is working with a developer to construct a $160 Million indoor-outdoor waterpark between Cooperstown and Oneonta. The 400-suite resort - featuring 85,000 square feet of indoor waterpark and 43,000 square feet of outdoor waterpark – expands the options for families staying in the region for youth baseball camps, provides an alternative year-round venue for families visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and offers a destination-scale attraction for families with school-aged children in the Northeast and Canada during winter vacation and spring breaks. This project will create more than 1,200 construction-related jobs over 1.5 years, paying out more than $150 Million in payroll. Upon opening, the destination waterpark creates nearly 600 full-time equivalent positions, with an aggregate annual payroll of $16 Million. Over a 10-year period, the financial impact to the region tops $800 Million. Firmly in the URI (Upstate Revitalization Initiative) pipeline, this development opportunity presents year-round employment and recreational opportunities, further enhancing the international appeal of the Cooperstown area.