Ground has been broken on Croatia’s first major theme park development, with the €25m (US$28.5m, £19.9m) development by Italian amusement design specialists Bausaa hailed as a world-class attraction on par with industry leaders.

Likened to Italy’s Gardaland – the nearest theme park to Croatia with a minimum three-hour drive – or the popular theme parks based in Orlando, the attraction is being funded by Croatian pyrotechnics company Mirnovec, which has launched a new arm known as Mirnovec Parks.

Expected to debut the €15m (US$17m, £12m) first phase of development by 1 May 2017, the 45,654sq m (491,000sq ft) theme park will open with 25 attractions aimed at children, families and teenagers. The park will be split into three distinct sections with wild west, pirate city and space themes.

According to Mirnovec director Francis Koletic, the park will offer multiple rollercoasters, water rides, an arcade and amphitheatre, with a strong emphasis on fireworks and pyrotechnic spectacles. Phase two of development will include construction of a tunnel aquarium and a ‘Red Carpet’ waxwork museum.

Construction by Zagreb-based firm Tehnika is expected to be completed by 28 February. Once open, the park is predicted to attract more than 200,000 visitors a year.