MALVERN WHITEWATER PARK PLANS AVAILABLE ONLINE

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The plans for the new wave feature at the Tanner Street bridge in Malvern, Arkansas, are available on a dedicated website:

http://malvernwave.wordpress.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The project is environmentally friendly by including a fish passage in the plans. The swiftwater rescue training area will remain the same, but will have a new eddy-forming island built where the old bridge pier used to lie in the water upstream of the island.

The 404 Permit has to be amended and approved due to increased quantities of excavation and fill that are to be placed in the river, an increase over the original values used to obtain the permit in 2004. The design engineers suggest that the plans be shown to local contractors to verify their $455,000 cost estimate. A big chunk of that cost has already been raised, about $130,000. Donations to the Ouachita River Park Foundation qualify for tax exemption, so don't hold back!

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[adavis]

Great !! Have been there in a class-will send donation in today

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Awesome, Ann. You have made history by being the first donor to respond to the Malvern Wave site.

Are you doing Class II whitewater these days? Maybe something like Bayou Des Arc (see video in other post)? I was wondering if you were ready for some small stream outings.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[adavis]

I am no t too fast on boat control but I did manage to right myself after going sideways into a rock last week. I am still a bit leery of a wet exit in fast water after last yr 's incident on the high water at WW School. Some of those new creeks look fun. I enjoy your videos. Maybe we will paddle again.-ann

[gannon_w]

How about a SWR class offered that's an additional 50 bucks which is donated to the cause? Entice people to learn river safety and support?!

[sat4]

I was wondering, What did it take to get the city interested in investing in the Malvern whitewater park?
I know that the ledge was being used long before there was paved walkways and parking area,ect. What did it take to get them on board to make any of the improvements?

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The Mayor of Malvern, Steve Northcutt, took a raft ride on some big water about 15 years ago and became a whitewater enthusiast. He recognized the potential for improved business in Malvern through increased tourism if the river corridor was developed. The mayor's working committee for the project, the Ouachita River Park Commission, seems to be less and less active. They were all set two years ago to obtain funding from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for extending the sidewalk downstream to the new wave project site, funding that didn't require any matching money, but apparently have not followed through on that. A route for the path had been laid out on the ground, a permit from the Highway Department to allow construction across their right-of-way under the I-30 bridge was obtained, a tentative agreement was reached with the owner of the riverbank between I-30 and the new wave site to build the sidewalk on his property, and a $330,000 grant was applied for from the Ouachita River Commission (a separate state commission with money for development along the river). The River Commission did not award the grant, but said come back and try again. The AGFC on the other hand said the preliminary sidewalk plans looked acceptable to them and probably would qualify for up to $100,000 per year. To top it all off, Entergy granted Malvern $10,000 to build additional river accesses along the proposed sidewalk in 2007 and they have yet to use that money. The AGFC even said they could use that $10,000 as matching money to get a total of $40,000 for the river accesses. I suspect that the problem is that a lot of the original Ouachita River Park Commission members have retired or sort of faded in their drive after the present sidewalks were built. They are all volunteers and many of them were retired folks 15 years ago when this project started. I know several of them have health issues that have prevented them from continuing with the park efforts. I ran into one of the commissioners in the mall at Hot Springs about six months ago. He said they had not found any place to apply for grants to fund the wave project, and that sometimes the Park Commission just meets by phone these days. It looks like they need some fresh commissioners with drive to get the river corridor projects moving again.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[sat4]

Thanks for the info. We have a spot on the Duck river here in Tn that would be a great spot for a playpark. It already has a walking area and river access. The main hurdle is that there is a old lowhead dam that would need to be adressed first. Aproching the city with any kind of proposal at this point is not realy a option because although we have alot of intrest in the project, nobody has steped up to take the lead due to work or other conflicts.

[Javi]

@sat4 where on the duck river are you talking about? I spent quite a bit of last year working around nashville, shelbyville, and tullahoma. Just curious.

[sat4]

Javi, The spot im speaking of is in Columbia Tn.

[sat4]

Javi, The spot im speaking of is in Columbia Tn.