Fort Smith and Sebastian County officials came together Wednesday afternoon to announce a new attraction coming to Parrot Island Waterpark in the 2019 season.

During a news conference at Parrot Island on Wednesday, Rick Coleman, principal and senior vice president of development and operations for American Resort Management, the company that manages the park for the city and county, said the company will be bringing in the first phase of a two-phase expansion this year. It will start with the addition of a surf attraction called the FlowRider Double.

A news release that was provided at the event states the FlowRider Double, which was designed and engineered in California by WhiteWater, gives patrons of all ages the opportunity to experience the thrill of surfing. A thin sheet of water, about 3 inches in thickness, is pushed across a trampoline-like ride surface by use of strong pumps. This creates what is called an "endless wave" on which people can bodyboard or stand-up ride on a board that is a hybrid of a skateboard and a snowboard. An inflatable divider can also be placed in the middle of the FlowRider Double so two people can ride at the same time.

"The thing about a surf machine versus a water slide is a water slide, you ride it and the flume controls your experience to the largest extent, and a surf machine, it's something you can get better at," Coleman said.

Coleman said people of all ages will sit and wait all day for their next opportunity to get better at riding the surf machine. The surf machine is also a great attraction for people to sit and watch all day.

Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said it took a number of years and a partnership with the Sebastian County and Fort Smith city governments to create Parrot Island. He noted after capital investment from the two parties to make the project a reality, it was initially anticipated it would need some subsidy to operate. However, the park has not had to be subsidized for four consecutive years. In fact, the park is generating profits that have gone back into helping with the expansion.

"So not only did we build a larger facility with more features by having the city and the county partner on it, now, at this point in time when you need to expand to keep the excitement, we can share that capital investment," Hudson said. "And that's good for everybody in this region of the country because this facility is a regional facility, and this is for families and children to come and enjoy life."

The budget for the two-year Parrot Island Waterpark expansion project remains at $1.5 million shared equally between Fort Smith and Sebastian County, according to an executive report from Hudson during the Feb. 19 Sebastian County Quorum Court meeting.

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill said the city is looking forward to the addition of the FlowRider Double.

"It's going to be tons of fun," McGill said. "You must have attractions in your city, and we are looking toward the future with more and more attractions, and we continue to get more and more increased-pay jobs, more and more attraction, and sitting in the heart of the United States, folks, this is going to be the place to be, and I'm very, very pleased to be a part of all of that."

Fort Smith Vice Mayor Kevin Settle and Sebastian County District 6 Justice of the Peace Danny Aldridge were among the others who spoke at the event. Coleman said the groundbreaking for the FlowRider Double will take place by the end of March. The goal is to open it for the start of the 2019 season.