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About seven years of planning and effort to locate a whitewater park in Glenwood Springs are coming to fruition.
The Glenwood Springs City Council voted last week to award an $888,838 bid to begin work on park features, to American Civil Constructors, of Littleton. Construction of phase one of a whitewater park in Glenwood Springs should begin Dec. 1. A second phase will include amenities along the river's banks at the site near the West Glenwood bridge.
Mayor Bruce Christensen said the park would include a "U-shaped" wave feature that goes the full width of the river just upstream from the bridge in West Glenwood Springs. That way, waves could be ridden when the river is running at various levels.
Members of the public who showed up at the meeting encouraged the city to move forward.
Chris Vogt, a co-owner of Glenwood Canyon Kayak, said, "I think it will bring definitely national recognition for what we have here in Glenwood Springs, if not global."
He added that the park would increase tourism in the shoulder seasons.
The park will be an economic generator for the city, said Davis Farrar, a whitewater park committee member.
Kjell Mitchell, representing the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool, encouraged the city to go forward with the park. The pool previously expressed concerns about locating the park near downtown Glenwood due to fears that it could harm the geothermal aquifer that supplies the pool. The pool has contributed $25,000 to the park, Mitchell said.
Whitewater park specialist Jason Carey said that construction costs will only escalate in the future, and the city seems to have received good bids.
To reach the necessary amount of funding, the city decided to contribute up to another $275,000.
The city decided earlier not to apply for a $200,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant because it was under the impression that its chances of receiving the grant would be higher if it promised not to apply for recreational water rights for the park. However, GOCO said no such condition exists. Christensen said he spoke with GOCO on Thursday, and GOCO indicated it would be very receptive to helping with the second phase.
Council members generally agreed with comments about the rising construction costs and the park being a valuable asset for the community and a positive alternative activity for young people.
Councilmen Dave Merritt and Larry Beckwith cast the only votes against awarding the bid. They said they were for the park but that the city must draw the line somewhere after being repeatedly asked to contribute higher and higher amounts. The city has promised voters other things like road improvements and a new theater that haven't been built yet, they added. They also shared concern about city manager Jeff Hecksel's comments that contributing the additional funding from 2008 sales tax proceeds would reduce flexibility in future spending options. Merritt said the Shoshone Power Plant being offline or online this winter wouldn't be an issue of significance.
"It's going to secure our place as a water destination," Christensen said.
He said that when he began on City Council, the city was using cash from landfill reserves to keep police cars full of gas, and now the city is in a position to fund something like the park without dipping into its reserves. He shared the concern that construction costs will only increase.
"In my mind it's literally now or never," he said.
Visit www.glenwoodwhitewaterpark. org for more information.
Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121
pfowler@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
The Glenwood Springs City Council voted last week to award an $888,838 bid to begin work on park features, to American Civil Constructors, of Littleton. Construction of phase one of a whitewater park in Glenwood Springs should begin Dec. 1. A second phase will include amenities along the river's banks at the site near the West Glenwood bridge.
Mayor Bruce Christensen said the park would include a "U-shaped" wave feature that goes the full width of the river just upstream from the bridge in West Glenwood Springs. That way, waves could be ridden when the river is running at various levels.
Members of the public who showed up at the meeting encouraged the city to move forward.
Chris Vogt, a co-owner of Glenwood Canyon Kayak, said, "I think it will bring definitely national recognition for what we have here in Glenwood Springs, if not global."
He added that the park would increase tourism in the shoulder seasons.
The park will be an economic generator for the city, said Davis Farrar, a whitewater park committee member.
Kjell Mitchell, representing the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool, encouraged the city to go forward with the park. The pool previously expressed concerns about locating the park near downtown Glenwood due to fears that it could harm the geothermal aquifer that supplies the pool. The pool has contributed $25,000 to the park, Mitchell said.
Whitewater park specialist Jason Carey said that construction costs will only escalate in the future, and the city seems to have received good bids.
To reach the necessary amount of funding, the city decided to contribute up to another $275,000.
The city decided earlier not to apply for a $200,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant because it was under the impression that its chances of receiving the grant would be higher if it promised not to apply for recreational water rights for the park. However, GOCO said no such condition exists. Christensen said he spoke with GOCO on Thursday, and GOCO indicated it would be very receptive to helping with the second phase.
Council members generally agreed with comments about the rising construction costs and the park being a valuable asset for the community and a positive alternative activity for young people.
Councilmen Dave Merritt and Larry Beckwith cast the only votes against awarding the bid. They said they were for the park but that the city must draw the line somewhere after being repeatedly asked to contribute higher and higher amounts. The city has promised voters other things like road improvements and a new theater that haven't been built yet, they added. They also shared concern about city manager Jeff Hecksel's comments that contributing the additional funding from 2008 sales tax proceeds would reduce flexibility in future spending options. Merritt said the Shoshone Power Plant being offline or online this winter wouldn't be an issue of significance.
"It's going to secure our place as a water destination," Christensen said.
He said that when he began on City Council, the city was using cash from landfill reserves to keep police cars full of gas, and now the city is in a position to fund something like the park without dipping into its reserves. He shared the concern that construction costs will only increase.
"In my mind it's literally now or never," he said.
Visit www.glenwoodwhitewaterpark. org for more information.
Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121
pfowler@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO
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