Kayakers need revenue stream
Proponents of constructing a kayak park in the Spokane River hope to build momentum for their brainchild today through a pair of events intended to underscore the value of having a whitewater attraction downstream from the Maple Street Bridge.
A consulting firm that has designed more than 70 whitewater parks around the United States is expected to appear before news crews this afternoon in advance of a reception at the Masonic Temple hosted by business and political leaders. Kayakers are expected to demonstrate the possibilities for their sport at High Bridge Park starting at 2 p.m.
Friends of the Falls, a nonprofit group promoting the whitewater attraction, still needs as much as $225,000 in donations to go along with a $400,000 economic development grant from the state. They are expected to launch an “adopt-a-rock” program to gather smaller donations of $250 apiece.
Dr. John Moyer, a former state senator and board member of Friends of the Falls, said developing whitewater parks is a trend.
“It’s kind of a national thing that’s catching on,” he said.
The whitewater park is being promoted in part as a tourist attraction, and thus, a boost for economic development.
“No. 1, it will be an economic benefit,” Moyer said. “No. 2, it will bring a lot of attention to the river that has not been so in the past. No. 3, it will not be damaging to the river, and it will not constitute a danger to people who use the river outside the kayak park.”
He said the decision to hire engineering and design consultants for the job shows “it isn’t something that a bunch of kayakers have decided to do on their own.”
Recreation Engineering and Planning of Boulder, Colo., is teaming up with David Evans and Associates, which has an office in Spokane, to come up with the design.
Recreation Engineering is involved in whitewater park developments in Reno, Watertown, N.Y., Salmon, Idaho, and Golden, Colo., among other locations.
According to the company’s Web site, “Most of our courses begin with a denuded and disturbed semi-urban waterway. One of our many objectives in these projects is to recreate the riffle-pool environment with enhanced fish habitat structures. Our parks are also a careful balance that allows riparian zone restoration while still providing access and facilities for visitors.”
The Spokane whitewater park is proposed for a stretch of the Spokane River downstream from a pedestrian bridge that connects the West Central neighborhood with High Bridge Park on the south side of the river. It’s near a series of concrete columns that supported a high bridge over Spokane River during the city’s railroad heyday.
Initial studies show the need for installing about 500 boulders in the four- to six-foot size and an undetermined number of smaller one- to two-foot rocks, most likely granite. They would funnel stream flow into the kayaking area through a curved arrangement called a “double-U structure.”
The kayak park is one element in a larger plan to create a gorge park along the stretch of river. Tonight’s reception will be hosted by state Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, Mayor Dennis Hession, representatives of the Spokane Tribe and business leaders.