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<br />eo . <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />001108 <br /> <br />Arkansas River, Salida, Colorado <br />The Mecca of Colorado playparks due to paddle-able nows year-round. the <br />whitewater course in the center of Salida has been evolving since 1949. the first <br />year of the annual FIBArk festival. It was not until 1988 that a few local boaters <br />teamed up with designer Gary Lacy to make the course more challenging for <br />FIBArk competitors or die hard locals running gates in January. While locals <br />tinkered with the course over the years, the most significant recent change was <br />performed in 2000 and 200 I under the watch of the Arkansas River Trust. The <br />Trust is a non"proflt formed specifICally to create and maintain a world-class <br />. .. whitewater park in Salida <br />"Not only did we want to improve the <br />features. but to really integrate the river <br />corridor into downtown Salida for <br />everyone. not just paddlers." says the Trust's <br /> <br /> <br />Executive Director. Mike Harvey.The Trust spearheaded the construction of a <br />rodeo hole. removed hundreds of tons of concrete and trash from the river. re- . . <br />stabilized the banks with vegetation and rock. built a section of river walk and <br />most recently expanded the slalom course upstream of the Salida boat ramp, <br />The funds for the project came largely from within the paddling community. <br />though the City of Salida contributed $50,000 of what amounted to a $200,000 <br />project "I think Salida is an example of how a motivated group of paddlers can make- <br />this happen in their community without a local municipality with deep pockets." says <br />~ He "'" tho, th, Tru< "" ,"rthec pi.. to "",~d "" ~;""" ("'05, <br /> <br />fri; 7 <br /> <br />. leature film party <br />and dinner <br /> <br />. pedal & paddle <br />boaler-cross <br />(featuring Ihe big <br />wheel start) <br /> <br />sat. 8 <br /> <br />. salmon slalom <br />. down river race <br />. lal eddy's thread- <br />works & paddler <br />magazine: <br /> <br />Fat City Showdown <br />Rodeo <br />. crazy river dog <br /> <br />. rocky's jambalaya <br />dinner & bluegrass <br />band <br />. awards & party <br /> <br />sun. 9. <br /> <br />. slalom race <br /> <br />For more info check out: <br />fOleddysthreadv.oorks.com <br />backdoorsports. com <br /> <br />pmlB.~ ~ ~ ~ <br /> <br />A -FriendS of the Vampa River Fundraiser <br /> <br />52 Paddler GIJune !~ <br />