City considers in-water recreation park for riverfront

An in-water recreation park offering whitewater rafting is among the possibilities proposed for Columbus’ riverfront.

The recreation park was among the suggestions during a public workshop Wednesday at Columbus City Hall. More than 50 people provided input about what they would like to see along the riverfront between the Second and Third street bridges, in a project to be designed by Hitchcock Design Group, Naperville, Illinois.

Scott Shipley, president of S2o Design in Lyons, Colorado, said his firm has developed more than 30 in-water recreation parks that feature rafting and kayaking. The firm developed the Lee Valley White Water Center in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

The company, which subcontracts with Hitchcock Design Group, is among the entities working on the riverfront project.

Whitewater parks, which have been developed in the cities of Vail and Breckenridge, Colorado, resulted in an economic benefit totaling over $1 million annually for each city, Shipley said. In Reno, Nevada, the economic impact has been over $35 million, he said.

Developing an in-water recreation park brings people of all ages together, whether it’s for kayaking or dipping their feet in the water, he said.

“We can create some of those experiences here in your community,” he said.

For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.