So, the river closest to home for me and the one I paddle most frequently is applying for a variance to the Adirondack Park Agency to allow man-made features for a whitewater park. I went to the town board meeting which didn't really seem to persuade them either way.
This brings me to my question - How far would you guys travel for a white water play park? What would getting a play park close to home mean to you?
Let them know here.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/456/926/563/
I grew up in a town with a whitewater park. Although about 10% of the use was actually kayakers, that place is hopping damn near everyday in the summer. I loved being able to drive 2 minutes and be able to throw the boat in the water. But I'm not much of a dedicated playboater so it takes a lot for me to drive any distance just to go to a playpark....
signed.....
I grew up near DC, so the nearest "Whitewater park" was about 2 hours away. As soon as I moved to CO though, it seems that every river has a "whitewater park". I live in Boulder, so Golden and Lyons are within 20-30 mins. So I have noticed that out East whitewater parks are manmade rivers, completely built out of concrete and sometimes stone, but in CO a "whitewater park" is when engineers throw some strategic rocks in the river to make a feature. If that helps you at all.
From Colorado Springs I would drive down to Pueblo for the park there and sometimes up to Golden.
In the North East though? I have a great tidal wave less then 30 min from my house, and I'm way more into creeking, so it would have to be something really special to get me to drive more than an hour.