Ground-breaking things are happening in El Paso, Texas. The city, famed for its desert landscape, is soon to break ground on its third new waterpark development in as many weeks.

Late in March 2019, there was a ceremony for the Cohen water park in north-east El Paso – a site that will include slides, a lazy river, toddler pool, climbing wall, lap pool and cabanas. Costing US$11.3m (€10m, £8.64m), the new attraction is expected to open in Q3 2020.

Then on 11 April, ground was broken in central El Paso for the Lost Kingdom waterpark – a Mayan-themed attraction featuring much the same facilities as Cohen. Its construction will cost US$11.8m (€10.45m, £9.02m), with its opening also due for Q3 2020.

Still to come on 18 April is the groundbreaking ceremony for Chapoteo, a fiesta-themed water park in El Paso’s Mission Valley, featuring slides, pools, cabanas and more, and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Chapoteo means splash in English.

These developments will bring the number of waterpark facilities in El Paso to four. There is a Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterworld to the north of the city, as well as the Salvador Rivas spray park. The developments, says the city, are part of its stated commitment to enhancing its residents quality of life through the creation of recreational, cultural and educational environments.