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Feasibility Study - Executive
Summary
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Full report available at :
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/reports/whitewaterpark.html |
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Full report - Adobe PDF format (1.9 MB):
http://www.whitewaterpark.canoe-kayak.org/waterpark.pdf
Appendix - Adobe PDF (1.1 MB):
http://www.whitewaterpark.canoe-kayak.org/waterpark_appendix.pdf |
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| A whitewater course is
technically and economically feasible on the east bank if the
Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. It makes use of the
vertical drop created by the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam
and the abundant, year around water flow in the Mississippi River to
create a recreational amenity that would serve a wide
constituency. In a sense it would recreate the white water
river that gave rise to the Twin Cities.
The proposed course is essentially a
new river channel that bypasses the Lower St. Anthony Lock and Dam.
The channel is approximately 2000 feet long, 40 feet wide, and has a
vertical drop of about 25 feet. The "re-created" river will flow
roughly parallel to the main stem of the Mississippi River in a park
setting.
This proposal is consistent with
efforts to reclaim the Mississippi River Waterfront for recreation
and tourism in the Twin Cities and has the potential to be a
signature project with an international reputation. The resulting
juxtaposition of industry and recreation on a riverfront that is
both natural and urban could be dynamic and exciting.
This project and the long awaited
extensions of the East River Road and bike trails will effectively
join the surrounding neighborhoods to the river, to downtown, and to
the Twin Cities' extensive parkway and trail system. The whitewater
park will draw visitors from the surrounding areas and from around
the world. The project could catalyze economic renewal of the
surrounding area by lessening its reliance on light industry and by
promoting public access to the Mississippi River.
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| Project Impact |
| Economic
Impact |
| It is conservatively
estimated that the park will draw 50,000 paying visitors per year if
properly managed and promoted. This is in addition to five to ten
times that number who will come to watch from shore. The whitewater
course is not expected to pay for the $7 million capital costs to
build it, However user fees are expected to cover its operating
expenses. The cost of the the whitewater course and park as shown in
the master plan, with roads, parking, trails, pedestrian bridges,
fishing pier, and other park amenities is roughly estimated to have
a construction cost of $15 million.
The direct economic impact would be
on the immediate neighborhood and the commercial district of St.
Anthony Falls. The impacts are primarily based on commercial
rafting, with a lesser reliance on private boaters. We estimate an
economic impact of $2 to $2.5 million annually. These impacts
include both visitor spending and course user fees. About 30 percent
of the spending is expected to come from out-of-state visitors.
Whitewater events bring exposure to
the sport and temporary influxes of tourist spending to the local
economy. Once established in paddle sports, world class whitewater
courses can expect to host one Olympic-level international event and
two or more national events every two years. It will also provide a
close to home boating venue for the Twin Cities and Minnesota
paddlers. |
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| Site
Impacts |
| The most significant
site impact is the creation of an island in front of the University
Steam Plant. This is necessary to create a longer channel. It might
result in some alteration and fill on the edge of the Mississippi
River. However utilizing fill dredged from the river itself
could mitigate this.
There are no known environmental
problems with the site and no known archaeological sites will be
disturbed.
The channel crosses a number of
major and minor utilities. One major impact necessitated by the new
channel is the relocation of a 54-inch water main.
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| Landowner
Impacts |
The St. Anthony Falls
site is presently an industrial setting with three major landowners:
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Northern States Power, and the
University of Minnesota. Their interests and utilization of the site
will be affected by the proposed whitewater course and the viability
of this concept hinges upon their acceptance of it. In order for the
project to make the jump from being technically feasible to being
practical, the following accommodations are needed:
- Phase out the Corps
of Engineers dredge spoil area below the
Interstate 35W bridge.
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- Make space available
at one of the University of Minnesota buildings to
serve the park. Ideally, the space would
be within or adjacent to the Tandem Accelerator
Lab.
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- Adjust the planned
siting of the Northern States Power hydroelectric
plant to allow sufficient room for the whitewater
channel (there are no active plans to build the plant
at the time of this writing).
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- permit a pedestrian
boardwalk on the river side of the steam
plant.
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| Management |
| Management
Structure |
| Management of
the park will be a likely combination of public and private
entities and will be geared for four-season operation. Five
public and private entities have expressed interest in
participating. We envision a flexible management structure
that handles the summer peak season, allocating water time
fairly to all user groups, as well as making the course
available in the shoulder and low seasons for hard-core
boaters and University and local athletic programs.
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| Public
Ownership |
| Access to the
river and utilization of this wonderful resource were the
themes of the public comments we received. Suggestions for
activities and programs at the site were imaginative,
inclusive of a broad cross section of society and spanned all
four seasons. The site master plan attempts to accommodate as
many of these activities as possible within the narrow river
gorge.
This proposal envisions
increased access to the Mississippi and revitalization of the
surrounding neighborhoods. The continued involvement of the
public will be needed to ensure its success and their
enthusiasm. |
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| Safety
Considerations |
| Although
injuries at similar parks throughout the world are rare, the
potential for injury related liability must be addressed.
Liability will be shared by requiring insurance from on-site
operators, event organizers, and collegiate users. Common
sense site planning has been employed to facilitate self
rescue and to clearly mark the boundaries where boating is and
is not permitted.
This site enjoys more flood
protection than many other man-made whitewater venues in this
country and abroad. It is perched above all but the most
extreme flooding and is protected by the lower St. Anthony
Falls Locks and Dam. Nonetheless this proposal recognizes the
inherent limitations and risks associated with construction
within floodplains and employs survivable construction
techniques where loss may occur.
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