Oklahoma Whitewater Park

[RomanLA]

I just saw this on my river guide app...
http://www.okgazette.com/p/12776/a/4991 ... IANwAyADkA

[okieboater]

keep your fingers crossed

and hope the okc voters vote yes

[L.A.paddler]

All we need is MAPS 3 to pass Dec. 8th and we are in business. Do keep your fingers crossed and if you know anyone in Okc. please call them and urge them to vote yes.

Thanks, Terry DeMoe

[Victor Caballeros]

This would be sweat! especially during July-August times.

[RomanLA]

I'm not a big fan of artificial parks, but it would be good for boater skills.

[ARzach]

I'm not a big fan of artificial parks, but it would be good for boater skills.

What's your definition of "artificial"? And I'd guess it would be good for more than just the boater scene. Its a nice addition for local businesses etc...

[RomanLA]

I'm not a big fan of artificial parks, but it would be good for boater skills.

What's your definition of "artificial"? And I'd guess it would be good for more than just the boater scene. Its a nice addition for local businesses etc...

Parks that aren't part of an existing riverbed, requiring electric pumps.

[ARzach]

Ah yes. Like the one in Charlotte. I too am skeptical of those, but they could be cool. I've never seen one. I don't think the one in T-town is anything of that nature though. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) they are simply re-arranging some rocks and relying on "natural" flows and/or scheduled releases from upstream, which I'm all for :)

[CapnTom]

OKC shall be a "clean" waterpark. Meaning not the nasty water "some" of Oklahoma has been known for...

[Ben Rodda]

Yeah I have to jump in on the side of "if there are electric pumps" then its a bad idea. The thought that we might have to build another dam in order to create whitewater else where is silly.... Ok so maybe not another damn, maybe its a coal plant...nuclear.. etc.

I have been to the park in Charlotte and was not impressed. More than likely has more to do with REP and how Scott Shipley designed it. It is far from world class, unless you are slalom boater and perhaps its cool.

From an economical standpoint whitewater is not even that great an idea for OKC. Its true that whitewater parks have brought tons of money into Colorado economies but its a popular whitewater destination anyway. You may get some folks to drop in on the way from Texas to Colorado bit not to stick around. Add into that the fact that USNWC has not even made a payment on interest yet.

Best case senario is to select a location where gradient can be created and build a chanel or some kind of lock to create some white water.

My two cents.

[FarPastGone]

I have been to the USNWC in Charlotte as well, but thought it was a great time. Hard to beat a repetitive dose of whitewater, I am sure if you spent a bunch of days in a row out there it would get boring, but then again if you were a paddler in Charlotte or east then it would be a great relief. It has been a couple years since I went, but it sounds like they have fixed the water quality issues for the most part. The only other thing I remember that sucked was that the parking lot was under massive power lines, so it seemed like every time you touched the car doors you got shocked. I haven't gotten to boat it (have walked around it after it was turned off), but I am curious if the artificial course in Maryland near the UYough has been successful.

It would be on a large scale but if you took a page from the park in San Marcos you can create gradient by raising the pool level at the top of the course through obstruction whether that be by dam, locks, or whatever, but gravity could be used over pumps. I agree though that pumps start to become overkill. One of the arguments used in the San Marcos case for Rio Vista was the added aeration would positively impact water quality, not that it seems like an issue on the San Marcos.

I haven't read anything on the whitewater aspect of the proposition, but if they were to raise the pool level and just make alterations to the existing streambed then I think it would be cool. Otherwise I would say put the money towards a more deserving site like Ben said.

-Matt

[knu2xs]

The project in OKC would be right next to the current flatwater center and be completely built from scratch in an area currently nothing more than a field next to a river just south of downtown. A few months back, while working in OKC, I dropped by the boathouse one night after work, talked with them and looked at the plans.

I am interested and optimistic in this project in large part due to the length of the training season possible in OKC and the sound financial plan If they are able to complete this, it would surmount the obstacle plaguing Charlotte, huge debt. The facility would be paid for the day it opened, greatly reducing the margin the facility would need to cover to be successful.

The people in charge of this project want it for the right reasons, a very different situation than Charlotte. They are interested in developing it as a complete paddlesport development facility, fostering both flatwater and whitewater competitive disciplines. Hence, I am optimistically supportive of this endeavor.

[Randy Dodson]

and to think I grew up in OKC, then moved to AR to get closer to WW

[okc-horton]

coming from the perspective of someone who has been pushing this project for years here in OKC.

We are positioned to make improvements where Charolette, Western Maryland, and the other parks have fallen short.

We have lots reasons to believe that it can be a sustainable business, and attract a lot of additional business to OKC

There isn't much of anything in OKC that is "natural", we certainly don't have the fortune of rivers of AR or CO here in OKC, so whatever we do must be 'artifical'...this includes a basketball stadium.

OG&E, our power company has talked about powering the pumps with wind power...if not the pumps can run off natural gas. Oklahoma is an energy state, and the powers that be realize the game is changing, and are willing to have pilot projects

Finally, where else besides Oklahoma would it be appropriate to hold a kayak rodeo, and a real rodeo at the same venue!?

I'm looking forward to paddling with my AR friends in ooooKAYAKlahoma soon