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<br />000242 <br /> <br />Parks in pro\ress <br /> <br />t;,:;:::~~oom is on_ With 20 artificially created whitewater parks already flowing in the U.S., there are at least <br /> <br />\."".:>Anore in the works_ Here's a sampler of upcoming whitewater parks guaranteed to put more play in <br /> <br />your paddling. For more information and links to many of the projects check the Susquehanna Whitewater <br /> <br />Park Alliance Web site at www.swwparkalliance.com. <br /> <br />Casper, Wyoming-North Platte River <br />This project was spurred by a larger waterfront rehabilitation <br />project, partially funded by a downtown oil refinery. While the project <br />is currently in the permitting phase, cOl15truction is expecred to be~n <br />in the lall of 2002. The park was designed by Gary Lacy and includes <br />five or six structures, including the modification of an existing rubble <br />dam, all within a half-mile stretch. Flows range between 200-2,000 ds. <br /> <br />Charlotte, North Carolina <br />While this proposed park is still in the planning stages, if <br />approved and when completed, it would be the nation's first <br />completely man-made, recirculating, river-free whitewater park. Inspired <br />by the Pernith, Australia, Olympic course, the facility will coSt as much <br />as $10 million. The two-channel course will be 1,500 feet long, and is <br />intended for all types of events, from World Cup races to outreach <br />programs to commercial rafting. Completion is expected in 2003. <br /> <br />Fayetville, North Carolina-Cross Creek <br />Architect Gordon Johnson has proposed that the city of <br />Fayetville convert a four-mile section of polluted Cross Creek into a <br />recreation haven by building a waterway that indudes whitewater <br />features. Though the course and related stream rehabilitation would <br />,CI\tf..Jllillions, proponents are applying for grants from the state's <br />. 'ater Management Trust Fund to pay for the venture. <br /> <br />breen River, Wyoming-Green River <br />Boaters no longer need dread 1-80 across Wyoming. By the <br />summer of 2g02, a playpark should be in place just off the Interstate <br />at Expedition Island Park, the historical launch site of Major John <br />Wesley Powell's famous Colorado/Green expeditions. Where the river is <br />split by the island, currently a city park, features will be bu~t that <br />indude two large surf waves on one side and a slalom course in the <br />other, currently dry channel. Yet another Gary Lacy project <br /> <br />Gunnison, Colorado-Gunnison River <br />Though this project was permitted three years ago, and has a <br />design in place, funding has been slow to come. Once the cash is <br />secured the playpark, located within a county park, will feature six <br />or seven separate drops. <br /> <br />Havre de Grace, Maryland <br />With a master plan that proposes five different courses along <br />the Susquehanna between Havre de Grace, Me!., and Wdliamsport, Pa., <br />the visionaries behind this project are cOll(entrating first on a <br />recirculating course on the banks of Chesapeake Bay. Three or four <br />locations are under cOl15ideration, but whichever site is chosen, the <br />course will be approximately 500 yards long, 30 feet wide and feature <br />an overall drop of 16 to 20 feel Designers are considering a modular <br />fiberglass construction and plan to install lights, as many as two <br />footbridges, grand stands and locker room facilities. In order to cover <br />costs, planners are considering selling the naming rights to the facility. <br /> <br />wille, California-Kern River <br />Two facilities are in the works for this small Siem town. The <br />. first is the modification of an existing slalom cours~he site of <br />the 200 I Slalom Nationals-20 minutes upstream from town. Those <br />modifications should be in place for this year's runoff. The second <br />project, to be ready in 2003, is the improvement of the old slalom <br /> <br /> <br />A look of things to come:Vail 8 Ball. <br /> <br />... <br />~ <br />x <br />-....~ <br />~ <br />}; <br />o <br />I <br /> <br />course right in town, which was informally constructed 25 years ago. <br />The improvements will modify existing play features and add several <br />more to the 400-yard-long channel. <br /> <br />Lyons, Colorado-North St. Vrain River. <br />This small town at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National <br />Park already boasts good boating, but this proposed 1,400-foot-long <br />course in a city park through the center 01 town would draw even <br />more adventurers. With a permit in hand and designs in place, only <br />funding could delay the scheduled fall 2002 construction. While the <br />park would run dry for kayakers in July, fishermen and tubers <br />could enjoy the seven or eight proposed drops in late summer. <br /> <br />McHenry, Maryland <br />The proposed 1,400-foot-long recirculating (ourse will be only <br />the firlt feature in a larger, 650-acre adventure-sports facility being <br />~anned by a non-profit group. The Adventure Sports Center will also <br />have rock dimbing and mountain biking facilities, but will begin with <br />the John Anderson-designed whitewater course. The plans call for a <br />15-100t drop along the (ouru's length as well as inflatable bladders <br />to compliment the permanent river-rock installations. The group is <br />also planning a whitewater hall of fame at the site. <br /> <br />MissoulalMiIltown, Montana- <br />Clark's Fork River <br />To be located at the confluence of the Blackfoot and Oark's <br />fork riverl, when completed this park will be the nation's largest <br />natural-river play park. The project is linked to a superfund site <br />deanup, so construction may be a ways off, but thanks to designer <br />Gary Lacy, it has a conceptual plan. The (ourse will be built in an <br />already existing riverside park with three features on the Blackfoot <br />and seven on the Oark's Fork, and will indude surf waves, playholes <br />and a slalom course. <br /> <br />Pueblo, Colorado-Arkansas River <br />This facility is part of an Army Corps of En~neers habitat <br />improvement project that begins with the modification of a low-head <br />dam in downtown Pueblo, An additional seven or eight features will <br />be added downstream to form a slalom course and play features. To <br />be completed in 2003. <br /> <br />Reno, Nevada- Truckee River <br />With a $1 million budget, this project aims to rehabilitate the <br />walled-in Trockee River as it passes through downtown Reno. In <br />addition to naturalizing the channel and adding a greenway, plans <br />are in the works to add a slalom course and surf waves on either <br />side of an island. Designer Gary Lacy says that col15truction is set to <br />begin on July I. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br /> <br />(c~(~f t~.f~) -,:~ f!i=! =i <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />\-'''''--r:--c::- -r:-.r=:: ,-./"';.: <br />,J \~-=-l~ ~ (~tr <br />!~i!i't~~:€J!t~ <br /> <br />FISH CAT <br />Complete Coho-Cat <br />solo fishing ,.,;1 <br />package. -j <br />:", <br />-:j' <br /> <br /> <br />! <br /> <br /> <br />;.., se!AC <br /> <br />./ <br />"/ <br />.,/' <br />~/ <br /> <br />SB <br />SERIES <br /> <br />Performance & fun <br />at a competitive price. <br />Large interior space. <br /> <br />Call For Pricing <br /> <br />1 SOC' O' j;;} g '.'., rr-' f' \ i <br />. ') :.- :'< ~i4' . .12Jf '. €\~ <br />: ~-~<:.' tJ-: "PS{-- <br /> <br />www.sotar.com <br />Email: sotar@)sotar.com <br /> <br />www.paddlennagazine_com . 55 <br />