Colomba, of Colomba Brothers on Crescent Street, wants to create a year-round skiing, tubing and snowboarding park at Prospect Hill.
"This concept is all over Europe and we were hoping to secure a site in New England," said Colomba, who formed the company Summer Ski/Ride New England, Inc., with two business associates.
In a video that one of Colomba's associates filmed in France, parents and children glide over man-made plastic-based terrain as sprits of water mist the surface to keep it slick. Teens jump over bumps on snowboards at the massive year-round ski park.
Colomba envisions a smaller version of the European trend in Waltham. The so-called "snowflex" surface features bendable layers of polymer composite that simulate the feeling of snow and provide cushioning for falls.
"You can have all the benefits of winter skiing with no snow," said Colomba, adding that he and his partners, Don Simonini and Bob Hatcher, are ready to invest $3 million to $6 million at Prospect Hill to make it happen.
City Councilor at large Sarafina "Sally" Collura, chairman of the ad-hoc Economic Development Committee, wants the city to seriously consider Colomba's offer.
"From an economic standpoint and local tourism, how can we not take a serious look at this?" Collura said. "What a cool thing for our young people to go skiing in July."
At the behest of Collura, along with Ward 1 Councilor Robert S. Kelly, Colomba will present his idea to the Community Development Committee tonight at 7. Collura asked Sandra Tomasello, director of Parks and Recreation; Bob Clement, from the Waltham Tourism Council; and John Peacock from the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce to join them as well.
A few weeks ago the Parks and Recreation Board voted down Colomba's proposal 7-1. "The board denied the request to grant permission for this venture at Prospect Park," Tomasello said.
Tomasello said the department already runs summer programming for children in the same area Colomba proposes building on.
"They're talking about the same space that we currently use," Tomasello said, adding that transactions involving such large parcels of city property can be very complicated.
She said Colomba wanted the board to vote quickly and told members he and his partners were considering other locations. Colomba confirmed he has surveyed other New England spots, but he said Waltham is his ideal location.
Collura thinks the idea of a 300- to 500-foot ski area and another 300 to 400 feet of downhill tubing could be a great source of summer recreation and possibly draw visitors from surrounding communities. She wants the city to take a second look.
Off Totten Pond Road, and close to highways and hotels on Rte. 128, the facility would make the perfect tourist attraction, Colomba said. In addition to skiing, snowboarding and tubing, he sees an entertainment stage for children with magicians and face painting, a swimming area and refreshments.
"It would be so the families in Waltham and in the vicinity can have a place to take their kids," Colomba said.
At his office last week, where he has done business since 1989, Colomba pulled out an old brochure from 1989 when Prospect Hill was home to eight active ski slopes. The slopes were closed after that season in 1990.
Colomba said his concept would be much smaller and that he would welcome input from neighbors and city officials.
"We can mitigate these concerns so at the end of the day what we're proposing is a complement to the site and not a detriment," Colomba said, adding that he thanks Collura and Kelly for bringing his concept to the council's attention. "When you deal with people who can see in visions it encourages you as a developer."
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com or 781-398-8004.
