Moses Lake to be aqua sport capital

Big plans for Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE —The city of Moses Lake may be in for a whole new look.

Destination Development Incorporated presented two possible themes for the city. One theme suggested involving the lake and the other was a 1950s theme for the lake off season.

"Good bye blue heron," DDI Representative Roger Brooks said. "I got them in my back yard and they're a pest."

He and partner John Kelsh plan to make Moses Lake the aqua sport capital of the country.

"Nobody is making their lake a sports capital, nobody," Brooks said. "It is the most valuable recreational asset."

The peak season of the lake is May through September, he said. During those months he wants people from all over the state and eventually all over the country to visit the lake.

He said to start out small.

"It's a brand you have to earn," Brooks said. "Find your niche and promote it like crazy."

Since the lake is warm, the city should consider being known as the place to learn certain sports such as canoeing and kayaking, he added. Eventually the lake can hold tournaments such as dragon boat racing.

"Dragon boat racing is becoming the new rage all over the country," Kelsh said. "It's a 2000 year old Chinese team sport. It's a big thing and its growing all the time."

A dragon boat is a long narrow boat powered by teams of people paddling to drum beats. The boat traditionally features Chinese dragon heads and tails for decoration.

By having tournaments on the water, people from all over the country will visit, Brooks said.

They also suggested a few name changes. The aquatic center should be expanded and possibly named Splish Splash Park. They also suggested naming the downtown area Third Street Plaza to make it feel like a destination people would want to visit.

Several businesses and attractions were recommended for the downtown area to coincide with the aqua sport theme and the 1950's theme.

A soda fountain, pizza place, candy factory, three retro cafes, 1950s music playing in the streets, three bistros and bars, water craft rental shops, visitor information center, three antique shops and an upscale water park hotel need to be added, Brooks said.

They suggested a few names for events that would match the city theme including, slash down, splash bash, wet your appetite and splash for cash.

The main goal is to connect the downtown area to the water, he said.

They proposed more entry points to the lake and more crosswalks for Broadway Avenue.

They still need to research how they will get the entry points because there is a railroad running across the lakefront that has right of way. They are still researching the crosswalk idea too because it is a state highway, Brooks added. They are also researching funding for the overall project.