Whitewater Courses and Parks 2010: Making it Happen and Making it Work

About WCP

In 2004, the Paddlesports Industry Association (PIA) and The Shimoda Group identified whitewater parks as an important, emerging venue for outdoor recreation, offering a greater level of water recreation accessibility to children and their families. To formalize the dialogue on this topic they produced Whitewater Courses and Parks 2005: Enhancing Communities, and its successor Whitewater Courses and Parks 2007: Catch a New Wave.

In first conference hosted panels of whitewater course veterans, advocates, engineers, city managers and scientists shared their perspectives on course design, the importance of stakeholder development, economic impacts, risk management, funding options and long-term sustainability.

In 2007, we added discussions about multiple use projects that have incorporated dam removal and fish passage. We heard from veterans of newly-completed projects such as the US National Whitewater Center and Adventure Sports Center International, the first two completely self-contained courses in the US.

For 2010 we will increase the dialogue about what happens after parks are built. We will address course operation, maintenance and propmotion – issues important to river parks’ environmental and economic sustainability.

Steering Committee

Our steering committee is comprised of individuals from a variety of different backgrounds with diverse skill-sets. Our team directly reflects the kind of interdisciplinary group that whitewater courses and parks require for both development and operation.