Richland County will collect about $5 million on so called  hospitality tax.

Members of Richland County Council met Thursday regarding plans that could commit nearly $50 million dollars for new recreational attractions throughout the county. Among those new recreational options is a water park.

The water park would be located on county-owned land between Farrow Road and I-77. It would be one of the latest in a series of franchises operated by Dave Busch of Hawaiian Falls Waterparks.

On Thursday, the H-tax committee voted to earmark as much as $20 million in bonds for the water park.

A motion also passed Thursday, according to Monique McDaniels, to move the report forward to the Economic Development Committee to do more  research  about the water park.

While the county would not have to pay for operations for the water park, that would not be the case for another project on the list.

Council members are also looking at building at possibly building a nearly $16 million multi-sport arena in the Bluff and Atlas Roads area. Councilman Seth Rose has questions about that and other spending proposed for recreation facilities funded by hospitality money.

“Council’s playing with fire in allocating $60 million dollars without the due diligence required to make sure these things are going to be profitable,” Rose said.

There are other projects to be considered at some point as well including amphitheaters, walking trails, and a $12 million dollar pool and splash pad on Garners Ferry Road.