San Jose’s Raging Waters park slated to make a comeback this summer

San Jose’s water park drought looks to be over before it even started as the city has lined up a new operator for Raging Waters, the nearly 40-year-old attraction that was closed abruptly last summer.

California Dreamin’ Entertainment will take over the city-owned water park at Lake Cunningham Park on a short term basis, pending city council approval on Feb. 27. Mayor Matt Mahan said the agreement, which runs through September 2025 with options for extentions, would give the city time to find a long-term operator while also getting the park quickly reopened after operator Palace Entertainment walked away last September.

“My colleagues and I were devastated by the idea that our families, in particular our young people, would not get to experience what for nearly four decades now many of us, including myself, have fond memories of: summers spent laughing and playing at our East Side water park,” said Mahan, who recalled the joy of coming over the hill from Watsonville for a big trip every summer when he was growing up. “Raging Waters will be open this summer providing the fun experience we all know and love.”

California Dreamin’ Entertainment is expected to pump $6 million into the park, adding attractions like a wine bar and bringing in food trucks. Neil Rufino, assistant director for the city’s Parks, Recreations and Neighborhood Services department, said the majority of the park was in good condition and that the new operator will pay the city 6 percent of gross revenue, which the city can then reinvest into the future of Lake Cunningham Park.

San Jose City Councilmember Domingo Candelas called it a real win for residents, especially those in East San Jose who sometimes feel disenfranchised by the city. “This is a double-down and a commitment from the city to be able to say we care about making sure you have access to safe, equitable, affordable and enriching experiences,” said Candelas, who added that he’s hopeful the water park can reopen by May.

Last year, the same group also took over the former Raging Waters in Sacramento — which also had been operated by Palace — and formed a branding partnership with Chuck E. Cheese for that location.

Could such a deal be in the works for San Jose, too? It wasn’t mentioned Thursday, but it would make sense as the pizza chain was founded in San Jose and California Dreamin’ CEO Steven Dooner even started his career there back in the 1970s, according to his LinkedIn page.

EARTHQUAKES AT 50: No doubt there’ll be a huge crowd at San Pedro Square Market on Sunday as the San Jose Earthquakes kick off their 50th anniversary celebration with a block party starting at 3 p.m. You’ll see Quakes alums, Krazy George banging his drum and the MLS Cup trophies from 2001 and 2003. The big event will be at 5:30 p.m. when retired former Earthquakes player Jimmy Conrad takes a walk down memory lane by talking to current and former players about the team’s first five decades before the unveiling of “The 50th Kit,” the team’s anniversary jersey.

Fans are guessing it’ll incorporate the team’s original 1974 Earthquakes logo in some way and possibly include some of those old red and white colors.