New Bedford Water Park Finally Set to Open [OPINION]

Chairman of the New Bedford Park Board Peter Boswell has told me the Altitude H2O water park is doing a "soft opening" this Saturday. Jonathan Carvalho, Public Information Officer for the City of New Bedford, confirmed it to me as well.

The water park has been in the water, but not being used by paying customers because of a lack of proper procedure. The water park is a public-private partnership between the Park Board and the Texas-based private company Altitude H20. The director of the Park Board, Mary Rapoza, has admitted to failing to get the proper approval of the city's Conservation Commission.

On Friday afternoon, Park Board Chairman Peter Boswell, a retired city firefighter, told me that the water park will be opening on Saturday. He also stated that a "heritage" study will override the Conservation Commission. At his request, he will be a guest on my radio show on Monday.

Craig Dixon, the Chairman of the Conservation Commission, assured the City on July 2 at a meeting of his commission that the water park would not open until the Conservation Commission had had an opportunity to study the environmental impact of the ocean-based water park. The next meeting of the Conservation Commission will be next Tuesday, a few days after the water park has had its "soft opening."

What will the volunteer members of the Conservation Commission do on Tuesday night now that they have been publicly humiliated by another City board?

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.