Cumberland Whitewater Park Cumberland Whitewater Park Focus Read 20 point Comic Sans MS from rear of room 1 Cumberland Whitewater Park by Robert B. Kauffman, Ph.D. Proposed site A free flowing natural artificial course Conceptual layout of course 2 1
Cumberland Whitewater Park: Topics: Review of similar courses Reno, Nevada San Antonio River Walk Confluence Park Denver Boise River Park Salida, Colorado Gunnison U. S. National Whitewater Center Mississippi Whitewater Park Development Corporation Canal Place Proposed design of course Photo showing original dam under railroad bridge. It backed up in both Wills Creek and the Potomac. Benefits/markets served 3 Cumberland Whitewater Park: Objectives of the Presentation: Survey existing whitewater parks and determine what other communities have done Suggest what can work for Cumberland Some Common Themes: Revitalization of downtown Economic development Reconnecting with the river flowing through it. Recreational opportunities for local residents Tourism. Relocation of the dam beneath the Rt. 28 Bridge Photo showing original dam under railroad bridge. It backed up in both Wills Creek and the Potomac. 4 2
Reno Whitewater Park: Purpose: To rejuvenate the downtown and to reconnect it with the river that runs through it (Visited: 2003). Makes the downtown an enjoyable and attractive place Provide flood protection Improve recreation and access Support downtown redevelopment Respect the area's historical and cultural assets Improve environment & water quality Note: Reno removed a dam. Map of downtown area and course Downtown access to river 5 Reno Whitewater Park: Users: Kayak livery Park and play for kayakers Tubers Benefits of the Reno wwpark: 32,800 people attended the 2007Annual Reno Whitewater Festival. 28% of the visitors to the festival are out-of-town visitors. 75,000 people visited in 2003 http://www.desertpaddlers.com/reno/image11.html 6 3
Reno Whitewater Park The Whtewater Park: Reconnected the city with the river resource Successfully redeveloped river area. Services local population and increases quality of life Tourism is a plus. Preserve the area's historical and cultural assets. It is a park that features a whitewater course. Condos and Shops Amphitheater 7 San Antonio River Walk: Facts and Trivia: 3.5 miles supervised by Parks and Recreation Department. Over a billion dollars a year infused into the economy. Over a million people visit it each year. Serves as the prototype for other river parks. There is a lot of engineering and history behind the River Walk. Original section of River Walk is primarily below grade. Back in the 1920s they considered filling it in. (visited 2013, 2014, etc) Presa River bridge from street. Shows how you could easily miss the River Walk if you didn t know that it was there. We will cover this quickly because this is where everyone starts. (click to advance) 4
San Antonio River Walk: Upper Section Three sections 1. Upper Section Josephine St. to Oxbow 2. Middle Section the Oxbow to Lift Gate #5 (below E. Nueva St.) The familiar section 3. Lower Section Lift Gate #5 to Roosevelt Park Oxbow Lower Section 9 San Antonio River Walk: Intake to Reverse Siphon, E. Josephine Street Not Practical in Cumberland: 1. Both are on Oxbows San Antonio s is center city; Cumberland is on tip of the oxbow. 2. Flooding and infrastructure development - reverse siphon, 1997, 16,082 ft., 24 diameter, 111 million dollars Oxbow Boring Machine 10 5
Confluence Park Denver: Revitalization of area Recreation Equipment Inc. Historic power plant Restoration for commercial use Complements river uses Whitewater course is behind flowers Similar to Footer Dye Work, etc. (visited 2001, 2015) 11 Confluence Park Denver: View looking upstream A park-like atmosphere Bike trails (multiple use) Natural flow advantage/disadvantage) Whitewater park that features a whitewater course Park and play Note: Walking path and floodwall on right Note: Steps down to water (visited 2001, 2015) 12 6
Confluence Whitewater Park: Revisited in June 2015 during high water period Rivers flood. It is axiomatic. It is a design issue. Note the walkway on right is under water June 2015 2001 13 Confluence Whitewater Park: Revisited in June 2015 during high water period Rivers flood. It is axiomatic. It is a design issue. Note: I had to include the photo of the dog cooling itself off in the water. June 2015 Dog cools off in high water. 14 7
Boise Riverside Park: Boise Idaho takes full advantage of their river for recreational purposes. Numerous parks line the Boise River. The Riverside Park is next to Quinn s Pond and adjacent to Esther Simplot Park. From a user perspective, they merge together. (visited 2016) Boise River Standup Paddling Quinn s Pond 15 Boise Riverside Park: The Riverside Park consists of a park and play wave. The baffle is inflated to tailor the wave to changing flows. Note the differences in wave dynamics. This is due to the adjustment of the baffles and river flow. (see next slide also). Note the inflatable baffles 16 8
Boise Riverside Park: The baffles are operated by an inflation system located above the flood plain. Note the inflatable baffles and the partially raised baffle. 17 Salida Colorado: Arkansas River (visited 2016) Course augments natural flow Park and play Community park with amphitheater It is part of the culture of the town (e.g. mural) (next slide). Restaurant overlooking whitewater course Park and Play 18 9
Salida Colorado: Arkansas River (visited 2016) Course augments natural flow Park and play Community park with amphitheater It is part of the culture of the town (e.g. mural). Mural on the wall Park and Play 19 Gunnison Whitewater Park: Gunnison, Colorado The whitewater park is an example of a low cost whitewater park. Note rock placement and note the hydraulic is not fine tuned. Note artificial placement of rocks The upper hole is great for surfing Inexpensive changing rooms. (click for next 20 slide) 10
U.S. National Whitewater Center Amusement park roller coaster is the attraction The surrounding amenities fill out the day. Adventure park whitewater course is the attraction The climbing wall, zip line and other activities fill out the day. USNWC is what ASCI should have been before they ran out of money. Takeaway: It is a park that features a whitewater course as the primary attraction. Quinn s PondClimbing Wall 21 ASCI Conveyor Belt: Conveyor belt returns boaters to top Equivalent to the chair lift on a ski slope Shuttle is not necessary People take multiple runs Fundamental change in activity from group to individual activity 22 11
Mississippi Whitewater Park Development Corporation (MWPDC) Proposed course is located in Minneapolis near the I-35 bridge. Estimated benefits of the project include: 50,000 paying visitors per year if properly managed and promoted. 250,000 to 500,000 people annually to watch from shore. An annual economic impact of $2 to $2.5 million. 30% spending expected from out-of-state visitors. 23 Canal Place: Mission Statement: Canal Place is to be the catalyst for the preservation, development, and management of the lands adjacent to the C&O Canal in Cumberland, and to be the advocate for preservation and development within the Canal Place Preservation District and for the purpose of enhancing heritage tourism in Western Maryland. Parking Market Place Canal Boat Replica Festival Grounds and Amphitheater Western Maryland Train Station I-68 NPS Canal Basin The proposed wwpark is a natural extension of Canal Place and is already connected with Canal Place by a bridge. 24 12
Canal Place: The whitewater park complements Canal Place it provides an attraction. The wwpark is part of the development of the lands adjacent to the C&O Canal. The park will enhance heritage tourism in Western Maryland. It complements other venues including GAP Trail. Parking Market Place Canal Boat Replica Festival Grounds and Amphitheater Western Maryland Train Station I-68 NPS Canal Basin The proposed wwpark is a natural extension of Canal Place and is already connected with Canal Place by a bridge. 25 Canal Place: Footer s Dye Plant Trestle walk Site of future 100 room hotel Parking Western Maryland Train Station I-68 Market Place Canal Boat Replica NPS Canal Basin Festival Grounds and Amphitheater C&O Towpath Trail. Bridge over Wills Creek Bottom section of Proposed wwpark The proposed wwpark is a natural extension of Canal Place and is already connected with Canal Place by a bridge. 26 13
Cumberland wwpark: Summary: Cumberland wwpark incorporates aspects of Reno, Denver, Boise, Salida and USNWC Economic redevelopment of downtown Rejuvenation and reconnection with the river that runs through it Provides an attraction for Canal Place Natural flow and a pump for recirculation Can work with or without the dam. It changes the type of course developed. 27 Physical features: View of site location below Route 28 bridge Approximately 16+ foot vertical drop More than sufficient vertical drop. Similar to drops on other courses It is an ideal site. Note: It can be developed with or without the dam removal. Proposed Whitewater Course: (View from Bottom) 28 14
Benefits of this project Eliminates low head dam hazard Returns river to free flowing river Improves water quality Improves fish migration Provides attraction for Canal Place Local swimming hole Tourism Complements GAP Trail Proposed Whitewater Course: (View from Bottom) 29 The design utilizes the existing dam and backfills it making a natural free-flowing rapids. Note: The whitewater park can be created with the dam removal also. Proposed Whitewater Course: (View from Bottom) 30 15
wwpark Simulation: Proposed Whitewater Course: (View from Bottom) 31 Cumberland wwpark Markets: Markets: Friday evening paddlers All DC paddlers heading west pass through Cumberland - supplemental pump Tubers/Kayakers - Saturday/Sunday - natural flow (circa 500 cfs) tourists, local groups (click for callout) Special Events rodeo, slalom, etc. Club Activities - local high schools Park for casual activities (e.g. Reno, Denver, Boise, Gunnison and Salida) 32 16
Cumberland wwpark Markets: Example of Tuber Market: Harpers Ferry: Needles Section -7/19/08 1,000+ people a day @ $35 per tuber 33 Cumberland wwpark Process: Steps in the Process: 1. Organizing committee and gain community support 2. Site plan, economic impact statement ($200,000) 3. Build it ($8-12 million) 34 17
Cumberland wwpark: Cumberland Whitewater Park is a park with a whitewater course that complements Canal Place and Cumberland. The End 35 (slide advances automatically) 18