Whitewater kayak park planned for river
By John Vlahovich
Spokane Public Radio
Friends Of the Falls has started a fund raising campaign for its planned whitewater kayaking site located in the Spokane River gorge downstream from the new Sandifur footbridge.
The group is behind plans to turn the Spokane River gorge through Peaceful Valley into a park and recreation area. They’ve already been successful in getting 400-thousand dollars from the state legislature for this purpose.
Executive Director Steve Faust says Friends Of the Falls hopes to build the river whitewater park a year from now.
That will require adding rocks to the streambed. Lots and lots of rocks, says Faust.
“We will need about 2,000 cubic yards of, preferably rounded, granite boulders, about 4 to 6 feet in diameter,” says Faust. “In addition we will need about 500 cubic yards of smaller boulders, and we may be able to use basalt for some of the smaller rocks, in the one foot to two foot diameter range.”
Faust emphasizes the rocks aren’t to dam the river. Rather, they’ll create natural water drops and pools for kayakers to enjoy.
Steve Faust says Friends Of the Falls hopes to have pledges for the $220,000 still needed by the end of May, “…because we really need to start the permitting process, and the final design process for this project in the summer of this year if we want to have the project completed in 2007.”
The group’s master plan for the river gorge, including the whitewater park, can be found on the web at friendsofthefalls.org.
Spokane Public Radio
Friends Of the Falls has started a fund raising campaign for its planned whitewater kayaking site located in the Spokane River gorge downstream from the new Sandifur footbridge.
The group is behind plans to turn the Spokane River gorge through Peaceful Valley into a park and recreation area. They’ve already been successful in getting 400-thousand dollars from the state legislature for this purpose.
Executive Director Steve Faust says Friends Of the Falls hopes to build the river whitewater park a year from now.
That will require adding rocks to the streambed. Lots and lots of rocks, says Faust.
“We will need about 2,000 cubic yards of, preferably rounded, granite boulders, about 4 to 6 feet in diameter,” says Faust. “In addition we will need about 500 cubic yards of smaller boulders, and we may be able to use basalt for some of the smaller rocks, in the one foot to two foot diameter range.”
Faust emphasizes the rocks aren’t to dam the river. Rather, they’ll create natural water drops and pools for kayakers to enjoy.
Steve Faust says Friends Of the Falls hopes to have pledges for the $220,000 still needed by the end of May, “…because we really need to start the permitting process, and the final design process for this project in the summer of this year if we want to have the project completed in 2007.”
The group’s master plan for the river gorge, including the whitewater park, can be found on the web at friendsofthefalls.org.