Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

So Trevor, Ben and I decided to go down to the Dallas Wave yesterday because it was running at a sweet 2400 cfs (perfect level, by the way). We were in the parking lot and Ben had already got in the water. Trev and I were about to walk down to the water's edge, when two trucks pulled up. They stayed a ways back, but I noticed a guy taking pictures of our license plates. So I approached him and asked what he was doing. He said I'm documenting. His truck had a Dallas Public Works logo on the side. I asked why are you taking pictures of our license plates? He said the park was not officially opened and he was documenting us for trespassing. I told him that about 2 months or so ago we received an email from the city saying the river was open and that kayakers could access the wave. He said he didn't know anything about that. I asked, if we leave now will your delete the pics of our license plates. He said no. I said are you going to stop us from paddling. He said no. So we went ahead and got in the water. They two trucks drove off. (Note: There is absolutely not any construction equipment nor workers at the site and the park is completely finished with grass in, handicap ramps and rails, etc.)

About 15 minutes later as we were surfing the top wave, I noticed another truck right next to my car. I told Ben and Trevor to keep surfing and I'd go check it out. I walked up there to find a police officer checking out my vehicle. He asked if I knew the park was closed. I said I knew it wasn't officially open to the public, but that we had received an email granting us permission to use it. He asked if I had the email. I said I didn't have my laptop, but I'd see if I could find it on my iPhone. I told him while I looked for it, he ought to come watch Ben and Trevor surf. He walked down to the river bank and was quite fascinated with the boating. I hunted for the email but could not find it. Then I had an epiphany to call Phil (Flipit) and see if could find it and send it to me. I reached him and he said he'd get back to me asap.

In the meantime, Trevor came up and said Dad the second wave is perfect you need to go in and check it out. He asked the policeman if it would be okay for me to surf while we waited for the email. The officer said no problem, go have fun. While Trevor waited for the email, I played in the second wave. Phil found the email posted here on the ACC page and copied it and sent it to me. Trev showed the officer. The officer called his supervisor and explained that we had an email that said we could paddle. The supervisor asked us to forward it to him. We did and he called the officer back and said they would be locking the gate at 4:45, but we could stay until then.

So it all ended well for now. I do not know if we'll receive a notice or citation from the city, but I guess we'll find out shortly. I will say the police officer that came was the friendliest, most respectful policeman I've ever dealt with. No ego. No power trip. I can't thank him enough for being open minded and not jumping to conclusion. Also a special thanks to Phil for finding that email and getting it to us quickly. My recommendation to anyone going to the Dallas Wave is to print the email sent out by Willis Winters and keep it in the glove compartment of your car in case you're approached.

But even better than all that fun, I think we got the first ever loop on the Dallas Wave. As you can see in this video, the second wave is incredibly uniform and deep at this level. I think a lot of freestyle moves could go down here. (Note the top wave is pretty exciting, too.) You'll also get to see our cool cop with Ben and Trev at the beginning. I don't know when the park will finally open, but we're still getting the goods when we can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyEjbtYn ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BDD

Sorry to hear that the bs continues.

Typical for the government (I am a fed employee) that one hand does not know what the other has done/said.

Surely the official opening will come one day (one can only hope)

I sure hope it all gets resolved before the summer.. I got several meetings during the summer of 2012 in DFW area.... open it is open and it rains!

Me too! I drive through the DFW (45/75) twice a week.

That wave seems like a boondoggle! How are you supposed to get through that without drowning?

some people just like throwing gas on the fire

Sounds like you handled it well David.

It really irritates me that the park hasn't been opened. Only Dallas would build a wave and then say, no you can't go on it.

Sounds like a success story to me!

We have a situation in which the project has actual "enemies", as well as a news media that seems to have reasons for emphasizing the most controversial aspects (boring stories don't gather more market share).

But it seems like that has been overcome, by sending e-mails to let folks know the other side of the story, and by taking the time to calmly get out another point of view and talk to the city officials. Now that has paid off; instead of getting run off, Dave was able to show "the river is not closed", and it all ended in an acceptable way.

I'm sure there will be further episodes, and not every one will be as happy as this one, but I just wanted to thank those who took the time to get this pointed in the right direction.

Six of us hit the Dallas Wave this afternoon around 3. Top wave is obviously awesome at 2400, but still very nice at 1100 as it was today. Great surfing and great weather all around.

When I came back up to the car around 4 p.m. my 12-year-old daughter said, "Look dad, there's a guy in a car over there spying on us." And sure enough, there was a man in a white Prius with City of Dallas Public Works and Transportation logo on the side of his car. He never approached us, he just sat there watching us. I imagine he was "documenting" again and taking our license plate numbers. I didn't go talk to him because honestly, I really don't care anymore.

I don't know how they know when we are down there. But they always show up 20 or 30 minutes later. They must have a camera hidden somewhere.

Geez, it feel like we got the KGB watching us. At least they now know someone is using the darn thing for what it was intended and it isn't just sitting there going to waste.

I think it's fantastic that you're using it, with support at the City no doubt growing. This is slowly pushing the doubters in the bureaucracy back into the background. Just by being and enjoying, you're showing what a viable and successful venue the park can be.

I just have a mental image of some "spy" reporting back to home base -

"OK, so what did you see them doing?"

"Well, it was weird sir. At most parks, the kids play while the adults watch. But down there, all the adults were playing while the kids watched."

"You mean, like partying and drinking, instead of taking care of their kids?"

"No sir, I mean just playing, just like kids, only they were wearing these funny clothes and had bigger toys. But they still don't understand the river, they keep trying to paddle upstream, but no matter how many times they fail and turn over, they never quit trying, they just back off and charge it again, like they think they're salmon or something. It's the damnedess thing I've ever seen."

(based on a true story...)

@ Cowper:

Have heard that several times at the ledge!!! Cracks me up every time