An indoor sports complex to replace the Great Waves Waterpark
The Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria, where so many local kids enjoyed summer outings and teens had their first jobs, will be redeveloped.
The City of Alexandria on Nov. 10 proposed replacing Great Waves, located in Cameron Run Regional Park on Eisenhower Avenue, with a 210,000-square-foot indoor sports facility.
The proposed Alexandria Sports and Events Complex would have flexible courts and turf to accommodate volleyball, basketball, pickleball, futsal, soccer, baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, and track.
A press release says Alexandria reimagines the site “as a year-round destination for sports, recreation, and community gathering,” with space for sports organizations, schools, leagues, camps, and tournaments, while generating revenue for the city.
Under the proposal, Alexandria’s Industrial Development Authority would own the land and facility and lease it to ALX Sports, a new nonprofit established by the Alexandria Soccer Association.
NOVA Parks has operated Cameron Run Regional Park for the past 45 years. Its lease expires on Dec. 31, 2028.
Recreational features at the park include Great Waves, which has a wave pool, a play pool, and seven water slides; a beach-themed play structure; a minigolf course; and batting cages. Those facilities will remain open through Labor Day 2027.
The outdoor ice rink will not open this winter. The holiday attraction, renamed Bright Nights—The Winter Village at Cameron Run, will open for its final season on Nov. 14
“NOVA Parks has proudly operated Cameron Run for nearly half a century. We were hopeful to invest in the site and continue that partnership for decades to come,” said Executive Director Justin Wilson. “While the City will be pursuing an alternate vision, we commit to working in collaboration as we conclude our stewardship of Cameron Run.”
Before the proposal goes forward, it has to be approved by the Alexandria City Council, the Industrial Development Authority Board, and the Alexandria Soccer Association Board. There will be a public review process consisting of community meetings and public hearings.
Alexandria estimates groundbreaking would occur in the first quarter of 2029. The complex would open in the second quarter of 2031.
The sports complex is estimated to cost $117 million, the Alexandria press release states. The city would issue $107 million in bonds for the complex and community elements. ALX Sports would operate and manage the complex and has committed to raising $10 million through a capital campaign to make the project possible and to pay rent beginning at $2.5 million per year over a 30-year lease.
The facility is estimated to generate approximately $160 million in revenue for city services over the lease term, including $20 million for affordable housing.
According to an article in the Washington Business Journal, NOVA Parks made about $10,900 in operating income from Great Waves in the year ending June 30, 2025. Operating revenue for that year totaled about $1.87 million, while operating expenses were about $1.85 million.
“The proposed agreement would pair professional facility management and the ability to attract and host tournaments and events with requirements for resident access, community programming, affordability, and property maintenance,” the City of Alexandria states. “These commitments would be central to ensuring Cameron Run Park remains a public asset that delivers meaningful benefits to Alexandria residents.”