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Big splash planned to raise money for whitewater park

by Ryan Graff
Post Independent Staff

Grassroots, local, and fun are all part of the plan for tonight’s Glenwood Whitewater Park fund-raising party at Buffalo Valley.

Local musicians The Rock Dogs will provide good-time rock and roll music, local merchants will raffle off merchandise, and “Gangs of Colorado,” a whitewater film by a local kayaker, will premiere.

“A lot of people have said they’re going to come and have some fun,” said Joe Mollica, who is organizing the event.



“It should be a really great deal,” he said.

River runners will have the chance to win free kayak gear, and bid on paddle jackets, kayak lessons, and even a Dagger boat of their choice.



For non-river-runners, the party will still be a good time, with food, drinks, movies and dancing with The Rock Dogs.

“They like people to get out and dance,” said Mari Brennan-Combs, the band’s publicist, and wife of drummer Danny Brennan-Combs.

“Old rock, new rock, all rock ‘n’ roll,” is the band’s motto, she said.

All money raised will go to a good cause that will benefit not just river runners, but all of Glenwood, said Brian Walton, another of the event’s organizers.

Glenwood Whitewater Park organizers hope that a whitewater park will not only provide a whole lot of fun for boaters, but be a boon for Glenwood Springs.

A whitewater park will bring more people into Glenwood Springs and provide revenue for local businesses, said Walton.

The city of Golden built a whitewater park a few year ago, and it has resulted in an additional $1.7 million in retail sales revenue for the town, said Walton.

So far organizers have raised $70,000 in cash and in-kind donations, he said.

Though the cost of constructing a park is substantial, “every penny that we’ve taken in is going to be spent on construction of the whitewater park,” said Mollica.

The same holds true for funds raised at tonight’s party.

The party is open to all ages, but people under 21 will be asked to leave at 10 p.m., said Walton.

Contact Ryan Graff: 945-8515, ext. 520

rgraff@postindependent.com

What: Glenwood Whitewater Park Fund-raiser

Where: Buffalo Valley

When: 6-12 p.m. Friday

Tickets: $10 donation at door


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