Town, BOSAC to Tweak Budget to Tweak Kayak Parks

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Summit Daily News - Town, BOSAC to tweak budget to tweak kayak park National Jane Stebbins Page 1 of 2 World BRECKENRIDGE — The town of Breckenridge will pursue an "off- budget" appropriati Up forge ahead with construction of the second phase of the whitewater park in Blue River, d Sports some concerns that the first phase wasn't built perfectly and that the season is too short to - Local building costs. - Fishing Tweaking elements of first phase will cost an additional $5,000 if done at the same time a - Strea Flow The town plans to split the $200,000 cost with the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory - W rite us Committee, which has pledged $100,000 toward the work. Opinion Some debated the benefit of the whitewater park, as it serves a small percentage of the _ The first phase, built this spring by Gary Lacy of Boulder, runs from the pedestrian bridg Columns the recreation center to the culverts under Valley Brook Road and features seven dips and - Letters the second phase, which would run from the junction of French Creek and the Blue River - E ditoria l pedestrian bridge, would offer deeper pools and places for kayakers to practice rodeo skil Summit The first phase cost $163,000, and the second phase was expected to cost $200,000 — or Up $250,000 if built next spring. It would also be easier to build it in the fall when the threat snowmelt is nonexistent rather than in the spring, when it is likely. About Us Tweaking elements of first phase will cost an additional $5,000 if done at the same time a li Contact list second phase construction, reported Heide Andersen, the town's open space and trails dir - W rite us Some debated the benefit of the whitewater park, as it serves a small percentage of the Classifieds population. Restaurant "I'm still not convinced throwing out $100,000 will make it viable," said Councilmember Gu id e ---- uid _- e - ___ _... Hinton. "After the newness wears off, after you've done it a couple times, people will go new adventures. I'm not sure we have the demand for the facility right now." A &E Andersen disagreed, saying locals use the Breckenridge park to perfect their skills before Archive them on more challenging rivers. The thing kayakers like the best is that they can get in a of playtime after work without having to travel two or three hours to some of the more po Advertise sites in the state. Vail Mamula said he isn't sure the park gets as much use as expected. Daily "I ride my bike along the bike path and I see soccer being played on every field," said Ma Post- Sam Mamula. "But I don't ever see anyone use the whitewater park. I don't want spend a money and have it be a fad. I hate to jump into anything unless we're truly certain this is t Independent of amenity we need. The issue of saving money is secondary to the need." Aspen http: / /www.summitdaily .com/news /news_3_072501.html 01/30/2002