Construction on Liquid Planet, a water park opening in July, is well underway on Route 27.

Kevin Dumont, a local developer, is living at one of two houses on the 45-acre property included in the 2005 land sale. Seven acres of that is included in a permanent conservation easement along the North Branch River, keeping with what Dumont called “a state park” theme.

Dumont said he looked into about 50 locations in the state before settling on the parcel at 446 Route 27, formerly a quarry and wetlands.

He wanted to be in New Hampshire, he said, and the property’s proximity to Concord and Manchester was its most appealing aspect.

So far, work crews have completed the gravel roads, foundations for the buildings, the underground septage tank and infrastructure, power line installation, the shell of the pool, a detention pond for the run-off water and various other projects.

The $4 million project plans include a 5,000-square-foot water “spray-ground,” a new trend in water park designs, which will include 50 different toys surrounding a “tree fort” and be the biggest in New England, said Dumont.

Also included are a 30-foot slide tower with four water slides which empty into a pool, a picnic area and a concession stand. The equipment will be delivered and installed in April.

Marketing for Liquid Planet has already begun. Season passes are $34.99 per child and $49.99 for adults, Dumont said. For the day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., children will pay $15 and adults $20.

“One of the things we wanted to do is not make poor Dad go into the poor house to take his family out for a day of fun,” Dumont said.

Parking will be free, and Dumont added the lot would not be paved to add to the wooded area’s visual appeal.

Dumont said he will soon also apply for a liquor license to serve beer and wine at the park, something that concerned some Candia residents.

The license would be heavily regulated by the state, Dumont said, and there will be a fencedin area for adults to drink. They will not be allowed to leave that area with alcohol, Dumont said.

He announced the liquor license application at a Planning Board meeting in September. At the time, Dumont pointed out that many children’s establishments such as Disney World and Chuck E. Cheese serve alcohol.

Dumont said those drinking at the park would be monitored for their intake, and pointed out that much of the responsibility for drinking too much falls on the individual.

John Tracy, part owner of The Whale’s Tale water park in Lincoln, told the Planning Board at a later meeting that alcohol service at their park has not caused any issues in its 20 years of business.

Water Country in Portsmouth does not sell alcohol to its adult patrons. Canobie Lake Park, which has several water thrill rides and a pool, sells alcohol in its restaurants only and does not allow people to walk around the park with it.

Similar precautions would be taken at Liquid Planet, Dumont said. “I have a lot more faith that parents will do the right thing,” said Dumont about adults drinking at the park. Only customers at the park will be served, he said.

Come March, Dumont said he will hold a hiring clinic for about 50 to 75 employees, including teens and hopefully teachers who are off in the summer. Training, including a first aid and first response course, will take place on the weekends in April, he added.