There’s likely to be more cannonballs, belly flops, and swan dives in the near future at Quarry Park in St. Cloud.

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a second swimming quarry at Quarry Park.  Parks Commissioner Peter Theismann says plans were made because the current swimming quarry gets very busy as a local hotspot for young people.

This new swimming quarry will be closer to the parking lot and is meant to be smaller, quieter, and more family-oriented; it won’t have high ledges and won’t be as deep.  A life guard will not be on duty, just like the existing quarry.

The Stearns County Parks Department received a $15,500 grant from Bernick’s to help cover the cost of developing the 2nd swimming quarry.

Development of the new quarry could come as soon as 2013.

The new swimming quarry is one of a number of projects in a 5-year plan, that include installing a permanent toilet for the current swimming quarry, developing a master plan for Wildwood County Park in St. Joseph, and to continue work on the Lake Wobegon trail extension into Waite Park.