For

immediate release

A Whitewater Park for the River District?

Has the time finally come for a long-awaited whitewater park in Ashevilles French
Broad River? A consortium of local advocates hopes so. The group engaged
Colorado-based expert Scott Shipley and his firm, S2O Design and Engineering, to
conduct a conceptual design and feasibility study for such a park. Shipleys report
was delivered earlier this week. Indications are positive as to feasibility, and the
report defines a path forward.

The idea of a whitewater park on the French Broad is nothing new to the
community. Riverlink convened discussion of such a project at various times in the
90s, but it might be that the idea was just too new and to different in those days.
The vision and hope stuck though as the community embraced the concept in the
finalization of the Wilma Dykeman Riverway Master Plan in 1994. That master plan
was formally adopted by the City of Asheville that year. It has since been the
guiding inspiration which has led to an acceleration of redevelopment projects
both public and private - in the river district

The in-stream park concept would involve reconfiguring the riverbed to create
multiple side-by-side whitewater channels or rapids that would add to the fun for
river-runners of all skill and interest levels, from inner-tubers to novice canoeists to
expert kayakers, according to the report. Over twenty other towns across the US
have developed such parks, and several others are in various phases of
development. According to Shipley, the science of designing these parks has come a
long way just recently as their popularity has risen. While there are certainly
challenges to getting a project done, a park in the French Board in Asheville could be
a great fit. Because Asheville is already such an outdoor recreation place to be, a
park there could really be a boon.

Rick Lutovsky, former Ashville Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, and
now an active civic volunteer, has been helping organize the proponents.
Ashevilles culture and identity is very much tied to outdoor recreation and the
environment, and that is what this project represents. Until now, there was
uncertainty about whether such a project could even be feasible. Now that we know
there is real potential, the discussion should open up. In addition to deepening our
conversation with city government, we will be actively meeting with and hearing
from stakeholders and community members. We also know that this will require a
serious private fundraising effort, but it is achievable.

The informal group of proponents, made up of area outfitters, property owners in
the river district, river enthusiasts, and civic leaders, passed the hat in the fall to
raise the $13,000 study cost under the auspices of the Asheville Parks and
Greenways Foundation. The study and final report was delivered earlier this week.
Scott Shipley and his S2O firm designed both the US National Whitewater Center


near Charlotte and the whitewater venue for the 2012 London Olympics. The firm
has also designed numerous community-scale parks like the one proposed for
Asheville including projects in Durango, CO, San Marcos, TX, and Wanaka, NZ.

There are two types of whitewater parks. Some, like the ones in Charlotte and
London, are completely man-made and very costly; they involve creating a
completely manufactured riverbed and rely on huge pumps to recirculate water
back upstream. Most parks though are designed and built into natural riverbeds.
They are much simpler and much less costly, as is the concept for Asheville.

The region within a couple or so hours around Asheville is the most popular part of
the US for whitewater adventure with the French Broad, the Nantahala, Pigeon,
Chattooga, Ocoee, Green, and Nolichucky rivers all attracting lots of activity. Pat
Keller, 28, of Woodfin is an internationally famous whitewater paddler and grew up
kayaking on all those rivers and now travels the world as a competitor and
adventurer. Asheville is the whitewater town of the south already, and the park
would just take us to an incredible new level. I love what I am hearing about the
design concept. Including the planned novice channel would be important too.
Kids, families, and beginning paddlers would love that feature. said Keller about the
project.

The study indicates three possible locations for the in-stream park near the
Haywood Road Bridge and Jean Webb Park, near the Bowen (I-240) Bridges, and
near the Pearson Street Bridge. The report identifies the Bowen Bridges site as the
preferred alternative due to its suitable riverbed configuration, better proximity to
planned parking, greenways, and other park amenities, less conflict with other uses,
and a likely better integration with floodway management. The park in that
scenario is located midway between the Bowen (I-240) Bridges and Craven Street
Bridge, near the northern end of the River Arts District. The report highlights that
new flood mapping and permitting would be required from FEMA and the US Army
Corps of Engineers under federal regulations, a routine but sometimes challenging
step for whitewater park projects.

Hartwell Carson is the French Broad Riverkeeper and a lead advocate for
environmental stewardship of the river. According to Carson, A project like this
has been contemplated for years by the community. Weve watched as similar
projects have gone into rivers elsewhere in a safe and environmentally sound
manner. The real environmental benefit comes with increased public attention to
the river. I spend a great deal of time trying to build awareness locally about the
French Broad, and I think this project could really help. The more that people tune
into their river, the more they will care for it.


The report estimates that the costs of design and construction would be in the range
of $ 1.78 million. As has been reported, nearly $40 million mostly funded from
external grants - is to be expended over the next 5 years on the citys RADTIP


project and other planned redevelopment efforts in the river district. That is in
addition to other private and public investments totaling many tens of millions of
dollars into projects like Delphi Developments RAD Lofts, New Belgium Brewery,
Pink Dog Creative, and the Glen Rock mixed use development.

One recently-created whitewater park is on the Nantahala River in Swain County.
According to Jay Curwen, a life-long Asheville resident and Vice President of the
Nantahala Outdoor Center, the Nantahala venue was built for two key reasons to
host the 2013 World Whitewater Freestyle Championships and to enhance the
everyday experiences of the thousands of river users that visit the Nantahala every
year. The 2013 Worlds was a huge success. We hosted over 200 athletes from 30
different countries and attracted almost 50,000 visitors to Swain County plus a
national and international television audience that gave our region immeasurable
marketing exposure. More importantly, the park has become a centerpiece of the
Nantahala paddling experience, with on-shore spectators being the biggest part of
that. according to Curwen.

Regarding the potential for a French Broad whitewater park someday hosting a
World Championship event, It would of course be up to the community, but there is
no reason that it could not happen. according to the project consultant, Scott
Shipley. Shipley himself is a three-time Olympian and World Cup Champion in the
sport. Shipley spent several years living and training in Western North Carolina in
the 80s and 90s.

The plan suggest a very low dam-like structure, using natural rocks, concrete, and
some mechanical metal gates to direct water through multiple side-by-side drops to
create whitewater of a quality that does not currently exist near town. The project
could feature at least one primary wave that would provide a splashy thrill for
those passing through on their river trips and also a surfing or whitewater play
experience for more advanced users. A separate channel with a milder but still-fun
rapid could be available for those not interested in the primary channels. The
mechanical gate elements of the project would ensure mitigation of flood impacts,
would allow for flow management at various water levels in the river, and would
ensure a pathway for migration up and downstream for fish and other aquatic life.
According to Shipley, it is the utilization of the mechanical gates in recent years that
has helped drive the feasibility and success of many of the projects.


An existing project with many similarities to the Asheville concept is the Boise River
Park in Idaho (boiseriverpark.com). Completed in 2012, it features multiple
channels and mechanical gates. The park has seen tremendous success in its first
two years - so much so that planning and fundraising is now underway for a $7.4
million expansion.

Harry Pilos of Delphi Management Group helped fund the study, and he is now
beginning the development of the 209-unit mixed use RAD Lofts in the River


District. The recent announcements of funding for rebuilding of the roads, parks,
and other amenities in the river district are all great news of course, but I think this
one element a whitewater park has the potential to be a very important game
changer in terms of ramping up the interest down here. We need to ensure a
variety of experiences for residents and visitors. The price tag is very reasonable
when it comes to bang-for-the-buck. Even though the site is some distance from my
project, I really hope this will happen.

Dr. Gordon Grant is principal of Hall Fletcher Elementary School, and has led
families and students on numerous rafting and canoeing trips on the French Broad
through Asheville. According to Grant, At Hall Fletcher, we are teaching children
from a young age the lifelong understanding that nature is not separate from the
city; it flows right through us and around us, and we want them to experience it in a
variety of ways. We are lucky to have the French Broad in the heart of our
community, and the addition of the park could provide an element of fun and
excitement that would make the river even more appealing to the young. What they
grow to love they will know to protect.


Marc Hunt is a member of Asheville City Council, spent earlier parts of his career in
the whitewater outfitting business, and has been involved in the planning
discussions. I think this project does have great potential, and I am glad interest for
it is stirring. Because the whitewater venue would ultimately be part of our parks
system, I am urging the advocates to work closely with our staff, our advisory
boards, and within the established framework of planning. And infrastructure
planning is moving fast in the river district, so there is some urgency there. Given
the Citys other pressing financial priorities though, an effective fundraising
campaign would be key. I think my colleagues on City Council would agree with that
point.

Derek Turno is the principal owner of Asheville Adventure Rentals, one of the
entities that funded the study, and one of the 4 outfitting companies established
now along the river in Asheville. In addition to retail sales, he rents tubes,
paddleboards, and other boats to river recreationists. According to Turno, The
story of the last five years for the French Broad has been one of the community
falling in love with its river. Estimates are that about 50,000 floated the river
though town in 2014 - mostly locals - and that is up from only a few hundred
annually just a few years ago. Peak days this past summer saw about 2,000
users. Our business is doubling each year. A whitewater park would add to the
experience and get more people out and in touch with the river. I am all for that.

Matt Raker is Vice President at the regional economic development agency
AdvantageWest and an organizer of the Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC
group. According to Raker, A recent study we conducted found that WNC is now
home to over 25 outdoor products manufacturers, many focused on whitewater
sports. The suggested whitewater park could certainly help us further brand our


region and support quality jobs in the fast growing outdoor industry. The
Asheville region is home to several prominent outdoor industry manufacturers
including Legacy Paddlesports and its Liqidlogic kayaks brand, Astral Designs which
manufacturers lifejackets and clothing, Pyrhana Mouldings, a British company with
North American distribution headquarters here, and Watershed, which
manufactures waterproof bags for river use.

According to Lutovsky, the next steps would be to work with local governments
including the city to see how planning and further design might fit into the river
district redevelopment effort. Assuming a fit there, wed need to gather initial
funding to get detailed designing and permitting accomplished over the next couple
years, with major fundraising and construction to follow that. With luck, we could
have the park available in a 4 year timeframe.

French Broad Whitewater Park page is going in place now to keep public informed.


Web Links:

Boise River Park
http://www.boiseriverpark.com

Clear Creek Whitewater park- Golden, CO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983Ph9ZCcKI

2013 World Freestyle Championships at Nantahala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2uwM5T7Ixw

S2O Designs and Engineering
http://www.s2odesign.com