A seasonal water park expected to bring in 500 to 700 visitors daily got approval from the Candia Planning Board in late December.

“It was a nice Christmas present,” said Kevin Dumont, owner of the Liquid Planet Waterpark, which will occupy about seven acres off Raymond Road, east of Deer Run Road.

Dumont first approached town planners for an informational meeting in 2005, and he’s now waiting on two state environmental permits before beginning construction.

He expects to begin building in April, and said the park could be open as soon as June 2008. Dumont, who grew up in the Seacoast region, intends to live in an existing house adjacent to the park and be its full-time caretaker.

“I’ve always been fascinated by water parks and I’ve always enjoyed them,” said Dumont. “It’s almost like this was meant to be.”

The park will include a 5,000-square-foot “sprayground,” which will be a shallow concave pool with play structures. Also in the plans is a 25-foot tower, from which two slides will empty into a deeper pool and two others will flatten out. Dumont’s plans also include a main building for things like locker rooms, concessions, retail and offices.

The park – which Dumont said will have the look of a state park, or rural nature area – is expected to be open annually from mid-June through Labor Day.

“I’m not coming in like Six Flags and tearing down 50 acres of beautiful trees and paving over everything,” Dumont said.