surfing Swepco in Gentry

[Fish]

All it takes is one person with some political savvy to get fired up about it, and good things can happen. Wonder if city of Gentry would get behind it for tourism purposes and the press coverage it is sure to attract?

[Victor Caballeros]

I am going to try this. I went to school in Gentry and lived there for a long time. Also I think Justin is going to join forces on this project. I guess getting a plan together and talk to swepco manager is step one any advice FISH?

[DaveIrvin]

I could help you with some of the prelimnary CAD work. Certainly a site plan and maybe a 3D.
If the project goes you might need engineers but for a preliminary sales job to help the owners visualize the changes I could do it pro bono.
Using Goog Earth and Sketchup I'll bet we could come up with something pretty impressive.
Maybe we could go out there and nose around sometime.

[Victor Caballeros]

Any kind of help to present a professional presentation would definetly be useful and welcomed!! I think this would be great Dave that you would take your time out and do that. My opinion is: I think we as a whole paddling community can make this happen together. Instead of a one man heading this up, cause the more idea factor and input the better! There is no "I" in team!! SO ANY IDEAS WOULD BE WELCOMED!!

[justin.payne]

Just a few things:
The power plant is in outage now, a very busy time for the management. This idea could be presented after everything goes back to normal.

The road that has the closest access is closed. Need to get in touch with the landowner to see if they would be interested in opening it back up.

The only access is across the lake. Somebody needs to see if it is gated off or if you can access it.

After talking to some power plant employees yesterday they said you could NOT get on the bank out there.

It's is possible, but needs to be brought up in a town meeting. It would be difficult to convince the powerplant to stop discharge for construction. I believe they still discharge during outages.

[Ben Rodda]

Wow this project idea sounds like an easy home run....

Of the three companies that build whitewater parks all of them claim to provide assistance in fund raising, planning, construction and follow through.

Here are the links to the companies:

REP
http://www.wwparks.com/
I would not recomend REP, they do a ton of projects some are amazing such as Buena Vista and Salida. Many are kind of lame such as Golden and USNWC (considering the scope of this project it could have been so much better)

McLaughlin Group
http://www.mclaughlinwhitewater.com/ww_ ... utus.shtml
They seemed to have stopped building parks...

River Restoration
http://riverrestoration.org/index.html
These guys have built some amazing features the Avon hole, Glenwood, and the Vail feature which has a bladder system to fine tune the wave.

wish i were closer...

[RandyJ]

McLaughlin's still active. They'd better be - they're going to do the design on Tulsa Wavepark.

[justin.payne]

how dare you talk about the golden park with that tone Ben.

[Ben Rodda]

Ahh yes golden the crown of the front range.

[justin.payne]

Where are ya at on this Victor?

[Victor Caballeros]

I have some stuff put together I can show you at roll session, or who ever else wants to see. I want to make an appointment in Jan to propose this to Swepco and get there take

[FarPastGone]

We should get the people that made the Breckenridge PP to build it, what a model of success.

-Matt

[RomanLA]

Sweet! I needed this info too...I'm trying to get a park built down here in Louisiana...believe it or not! The company that runs the dam/spillway is required to provide recreational facilities for their licensing, so they've been very receptive so far.

Oh and here's a link that AW sent me...
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... ater_parks

[Victor Caballeros]

The goals that I’m looking at are Swepco owns the land that is needed to build this water park. I want to sell this water park to Swepco so they would let the land be donated to the city. Next I want the city to approve of the water park. If everyone is on board then I would want a professional to come in and design a nice water park. I really don’t want to set up rocks and see what happens. I really don’t want to be turned down on this plan. I would like to see a park with swings, slides, Mt bike/walking trail, pavilions, grills, and the AWESOME WHITEWATER RUN!! The whole nine yards!!!
My Opinion is set a meeting up with Swepco first to see if they would donate the land to be used if I don’t have Swepco on board than the whole thing will go south. Next, we have to get the city to approve of it. Then I think it’s down to funding and design and the real headache.
If anyone wants to jump in on the deal to help It would be appreciated fo sho!
I will have an outline of my plan with me at the Jones Center if anyone wants to look at and give me another Idea or say let’s do it!

Roman If I get this going I would help you get started on yours. Maybe by then I will know what kind of political crap stands in the way

[RomanLA]

Roman If I get this going I would help you get started on yours. Maybe by then I will know what kind of political crap stands in the way

I've already got the ball rolling...thanks though! I proposed for them to make primitive campsites, bathrooms, and a trail along the river. I also asked for them to add recreational releases to their normal procedures, including a weekend each year for a whitewater festival. I told them I would eventually like to have a company come in and shape the rapids. I offered to start a non-profit to help them seek grants and raise money for that. The engineer that I'm working with really liked my ideas and is trying to push them through. Now I'm just waiting on a decision.