GREENVILLE — At least one local organization has come out in favor of bringing a Hawaiian Falls Adventure Park to Greenville.

The Greenville Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau issued a statement Monday indicating it is supporting the effort. President and CEO Sally Bird said the Chamber is constantly in search of ways to enhance the quality of life in the community.

“When people can speak favorably about that quality of life, it attracts both new residents and new businesses, and at least equally important, provides reasons for current residents and businesses to choose to stay here,” the statement said. “The Hawaiian Falls project is an excellent example of what makes people want to be here.”

The park planned for Greenville would be located on approximately 14 acres at the eastern end of the Towne Center Development, which is expected to stretch along the eastbound Interstate 30 service road, starting just east of the Home Depot parking lot, with Center Point Lane as its western boundary. Access to the park would be from the Roy Warren Parkway. The water park rides — including slides, lazy rivers and other attractions — would be open during the summer months, while the Adventure Park — including zip lines and a ropes course — would be open year round. Hawaiian Falls parks are said to provide up to 200 part-time jobs per season.

Rough estimates indicate the park could draw approximately 150,000 visitors per year, with about half coming from 50 or more miles away.

The water park would cost about $11.5, of which Hawaiian Falls would pay $1.5 million, and the adventure park would cost approximately $1.5 million, with the company putting up $500,000 of the cost. The company would be responsible for all operating costs and managing the property.

The company plans on making annual improvements to the park, again splitting the cost with the City of Greenville.

The company would pay a percentage of the revenue to the city under the lease agreement, but probably not until the fourth year of the lease.

At least at first, the revenue provided to the city would come to about $150,000 a year.

City Manager Steven Alexander said the payments on the bonds would amount to about $650,000 annually, which would result in an increase of about 4 cents on the city’s property tax rate.

“The project proposed for Greenville is especially attractive in that it provides year-round entertainment through the inclusion of an Adventure Park (a ropes challenge course and zip lines) that is currently not a feature at any of the other parks owned by this group,” the Chamber’s statement continued. “It is no news to anyone that the citizens of Greenville and the surrounding communities and counties travel to places such as Garland to be able to enjoy such a park.  It would be a boon to this community to keep Greenville and Hunt County citizens at home as well as to be inviting to surrounding counties to come and spend a day or two with us. It is also a proven fact that features such as Hawaiian Falls attract other commercial properties which would help to carry out the plans developed by the Greenville Towne Center developers, Emerging Market Partners, LLC. Therefore, the Board of Directors of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau strongly supports the Greenville City Council to take the necessary steps to make the Hawaiian Falls a reality in the heart of Greenville.”

If the Council calls for an election, seeking voter approval for the issuance of the bonds needed for the park, the earliest it could be scheduled would be in May of next year. The Council would have to call for the election by next March. If the bonds are approved, it was estimated the park would be in operation by 2014.