The current Green River (Upper Green, Class II-III+ and Green Narrows, Class IV-V+) parking lot is under new management for 2003.
As you may know the parking situation at the put-in has been the result of the Ring family offering their field for everyone to park for a small daily fee. While this arrangement has been great for paddlers it has proven to be a nightmare for the Rings who have had to constantly supervise and enforce payment to help maintain the area. An agreement has been reached with Chris Ring (owner)and the put-in is now under the watchful eye of the Green River Access Committee. The Ring family has asked for $6,000 per year to open the gate and we are asking paddlers to help by donating $20.00 to the Green River Access Fund.
With each $20.00 donation, individuals will receive a Green River Access Fund sticker for their helmet (this will help paddlers to reconize who has donated and who has not in the effort to shame each other into donating). This is the time for paddlers that use the Green to “Put up or Shut up”.
If you have any questions please call Woody Callaway at 828-698-5778.
Send your $20.00 donation (made payable to American Whitewater) to:
Green River Access Fund
765 Crest Road
Flat Rock, NC 28731
The work that the Green River Access Committee is doing to secure the Ring’s lot is an excellent short term solution that AW fully supports.
American Whitewater is also working on a long term solution to this access problem that will be made public as soon as possible. This issue has been a top priority for us for the last few years and we will continue our commitment to nailing down a solution in 2003. Access to the middle of the Green is great for Narrows paddlers, but is absolutely essential for Upper Green paddlers not wishing to run the Narrows.
Any funds raised over what is necessary to fund the current lot this year will be donated to AW for use on a permanent access solution. And if the AW reaches a deal to purchase some land and we no longer need this parking area, then the remainder of the funds will go toward AW’s efforts.