North Carolina’s Charlotte Observer reported on November 19th and 26th on two pieces of exciting whitewater news: the county commission is interested in helping to build a new $21.5 Million whitewater park; and USA Canoe and Kayak (USACK) will move its headquarters to the city.
The whitewater park is being promoted by a non-profit organization, Charlotte Whitewater Park Inc., led by executive director Jeff Wise. This will be the only site like it in the United States; the closest rival is the 2000 Olympic whitewater venue in Australia. While the whitewater course will be the centerpiece, there will also be coffee and juice bars, hiking trails, and a world class conference center.
The 307-acre park will be completely man-made, and will feature adjustable rapids, which are expected to be open to the public most of the year for rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. While early discussions were directed towards construction of the site in the downtown area, the planning has shifted to a site near the Catawba River about 20 minutes from downtown.
The County Parks Commission and County Commissioners have both expressed support for the Park concept. However negotiations over funding are continuing. The Park is expected to cost $21.5 million: Planning $949K; Construction $19.2M; Equipment (rafts, etc) $491K; Working Capital $800K. The funding will be raised from private donations, city and county, and marketing rights. The business plan calls for the COunty to own the site and for the non-profit to operate the facility using a model from county-owned golf courses.
You can learn more about the park at charlottewhitewater.com.The USACK is finalizing a six-year agreement with Wachovia to provide office space for about six employees in downtown Charlotte. The Observer explained that the organization decided to move from Lake Placid to Charlotte for the warmer climate, larger corporate presence for fundraising, and major airport. The article also suggests that the USACK will be looking for a new executive director to replace Lisa Fish.
The dual combination of the Park and relocation of USACK should mean good things for whitewater in the southeast; however much will depend on the marketing to ensure the longterm viability of the sport in the region. The Park also has the potential to increase whitewater enthusiasm and awareness of threats to the region’s natural whitewater resources. American Whitewater assisted in the preliminary planning stages and is credited at charlottewhitewater.com/whoisinvolved.html.
By promoting an interactive relationship with the outdoors, the primary legacy of this park will be to demonstrate the vital importance of humans interacting with their environment and the outdoors in a manner that supports a balanced, healthy lifestyle and ecosystem. The park will also serve as a learning center to work with local schools, church and civic groups to coordinate their environmental and ecological studies. We envision a park that promotes environmental stewardship through experiential and traditional learning experiences. – Charlotte Whitewater Park Inc.
We are excited about the future of the park and continue to encourage the Park’s organizers to convey an environmentally sensitive message sharing our enthusiasm for nature’s bounty in North Carolina’s mountains.