Bellaboo took this from atop the zip line tower yesterday. Note how big this facility will be:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ww101914a.jpg

It is very visible while driving by on I-35.

Apparently the groundbreaking is today: https://twitter.com/Maps3/status/524190535058464768


Join us today at 4 p.m. in the Boathouse District for the #MAPS3 whitewater center groundbreaking.

This is the facility that will separate OKC from a lot of similar cities, great regional potential.

Will make KC and Dallas jealous............had too. lol

This is the facility that will separate OKC from a lot of similar cities, great regional potential.

Will make KC and Dallas jealous............had too. lol

Everyone is curious about the project that will make KC and Dallas jealous; maybe Steve will reveal something soon.

The bloody hand print is a bit un-nerving.

The bloody hand print is a bit un-nerving.

They put those everywhere for halloween. They were even playing the 'screeching cat' noises on the loud speakers.

The picture from the zip line tower brought to mind something that I have been wondering for a while.

Please forgive me as it is off topic, but I've thought it would cool to add more some visual interest to the river by "dressing up" the I-35 bridges with a sort of metal exoskeleton, so to speak, adorned with cool LED lighting. Maybe anchor several metal archways into the ground on either end of the bridges and have them run from one shore to the other over the bridges. You would probably have to build supports for them that rise out of the river, I imagine. Would give people coming on northbound I-35 kind of a cool "gateway" into the city center.

It would obviously be cheaper than rebuilding the bridges (which I assume is not even in ODOT's long-term plans). Just a brain storm.....

^

Similar ideas have been discussed... They've already added LED lights to the Byers bridge.

Lots more that could be done in a similar vein.

We have a name: https://twitter.com/benfelder_okg/status/524312992523878401


Mayor announces name of new Whitewater facility will be called "River Sport Rapids"

^

Ben Felder has been doing a great job at the Gazette.

Hope he stays with it.

We have a name: https://twitter.com/benfelder_okg/status/524312992523878401

I'm shocked Cornett didn't name it, "Oklahoma Rapids".

I'm shocked Cornett didn't name it, "Oklahoma Rapids".

The full name is probably Oklahoma River Sport Rapids.

I'm certainly not a contractor, but is that number not sky high for such things? It just struck me as way overpriced.

Whats weird is most things on the list seemed pretty reasonable, some down right cheap, such as all the smaller trees/shrubs. But they must be getting some gold plated trash cans.

"For 450 shrubs, substitute one-gallon for five-gallon; for 50 trees, substitute 1.5-inch for 2.5-inch, $6,374." Considering rental prices jump about $100 going from a 1.5" to 2.5" tree, they must've gotten one heck of a deal on those trees.

I am a little worried they are making some short term decisions that we'll pay for later, like replacing all of the sand with packed soil, and removing the corrosion coating on the rebar. I also assume the designers know what they are doing, and hopefully are cutting things with minimal impact.

How about -

Oklahoma City Oklahoma River Sports Rapids .....

How about -

Oklahoma City Oklahoma River Sports Rapids .....Oklahoma County Oklahoma City Oklahoma River Sports Rapids of Oklahoma City. That's what they should name it.

The full name is probably Oklahoma River Sport Rapids.

Yea, it does not surprise me they are not using the term Whitewater, since even before construction I have heard some people confused about this and White Water Bay

What really surprises me is that they didn't sell naming rights to a corporate sponsor to make up for some of the construction cost shortfall.

What really surprises me is that they didn't sell naming rights to a corporate sponsor to make up for some of the construction cost shortfall.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a naming-rights deal done after completion.

Oklahoma City dignitaries formally kick off construction on whitewater park | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-dignitaries-formally-kick-off-construction-on-whitewater-park/article/5358509)

Glad to see this facility U/C.

River Sport Rapids

Let the construction begin on what will be a bright feather in Oklahoma City's tourism cap.
OKC continues the momentum...

The picture from the zip line tower brought to mind something that I have been wondering for a while.

Please forgive me as it is off topic, but I've thought it would cool to add more some visual interest to the river by "dressing up" the I-35 bridges with a sort of metal exoskeleton, so to speak, adorned with cool LED lighting. Maybe anchor several metal archways into the ground on either end of the bridges and have them run from one shore to the other over the bridges. You would probably have to build supports for them that rise out of the river, I imagine. Would give people coming on northbound I-35 kind of a cool "gateway" into the city center.

It would obviously be cheaper than rebuilding the bridges (which I assume is not even in ODOT's long-term plans). Just a brain storm.....

After spending a couple days on a boat with US Rowing officials during the Head of the Oklahoma, I learned the OKC course will not be awarded the rowing Olympic trials or US Nationals as long as the course passes under a bridge with piers in the course. I later heard from people that work at the river the hope/intention is to replace the current spans with ones that do not require the piers in the present positions whenever the I-35 bridge is expanded or rebuilt. Not sure of a time for this to happen but I would not be surprised to see it in the next decade.

After spending a couple days on a boat with US Rowing officials during the Head of the Oklahoma, I learned the OKC course will not be awarded the rowing Olympic trials or US Nationals as long as the course passes under a bridge with piers in the course. I later heard from people that work at the river the hope/intention is to replace the current spans with ones that do not require the piers in the present positions whenever the I-35 bridge is expanded or rebuilt. Not sure of a time for this to happen but I would not be surprised to see it in the next decade.

Some one was saying in at least the last year or two ODOT was already evaluating what they are going to do at the i35 bridges over the river and when they are going to do it, since the decks will be getting to the point they will need at least a major rehabilitation several years out (though far enough they are not even showing up on the eight year plan, which they way projects gets delayed covers at least ten). If I remember correctly they indicated ODOT was not planing on replacing the piers but they would probably be open to doing so if either the foundation, city or state funds other than their own would help with the additional costs on that.

Please let it be something like this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/The_Margaret_Hunt_Hill_Bridge.jpg

Please let it be something like this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/The_Margaret_Hunt_Hill_Bridge.jpg

But wait, it will be too costly for ODOT to do a suspension bridge with any type of vehicle running over it..........................

cant tell if Andrew is serious, i thought people in Dallas hated that thing

cant tell if Andrew is serious, i thought people in Dallas hated that thingI love it. From what I've heard, a lot of people in Dallas like it. I've heard there are major problems with the way the lane changes go north of the bridge where the interchange is. A lot of wrecks have been happening.

cant tell if Andrew is serious, i thought people in Dallas hated that thing

Yes there was much debate about it in Dallas.. but then again isn't any project subject to that same debate in any city?

Actually, it's the other way around. They are cutting out pavers and replacing with poured concrete. Pavers are more expensive to install.

...does that mean you're happy now?I change my mind on this. I thought about it, and when I first saw this, I thought it was going asphalt. I now know what they mean and realize pavers would've been prettier. Not a big deal I guess. At least they aren't using asphalt.

From the gazette:

Whitewater facility speeds Oklahoma River’s transformation

A dusty field off the Oklahoma River will soon be one of the world’s premier whitewater rafting facilities.

It might be hard to imagine but isn’t hard to believe, especially when the city has transformed what was little more than a sewage pool several years ago into a sparkling water course for kayaks, canoes and other water sports.

City leaders broke ground on the whitewater facility, which will officially be called Riversport Rapids, last week. Unlike other Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) that helped the city build on assets it already had, the Boathouse District and the whitewater course create something new for locals.

“I grew up in a city where we had this big ditch and the grownups called it a river,” Mayor Mick Cornett said, referring to the Oklahoma River. “We are indebted to the generation ahead of me to have the vision to see what could happen here.”

A metamorphosis

The growth means OKC is now a hub for American rafting, kayaking and canoeing. The city is home to more than state-of-the-art facilities used by world- class athletes; it’s also home to a growing amateur rowing community.

“I don’t know of any other city in the country that has this many rowing leagues where you have law firms and banks and various companies that come down and row against each other,” said Rick Adams, chief of Paralympic sport and national governing body organizational development for the United States Olympic Committee. “This is a model for what we love to see replicated across the country.”

The city moved quickly to begin whitewater center construction in an effort to win a bid for 2016 Olympic rowing trials, an event that has been held in New Jersey for several years.

“I would say [Oklahoma City] has emerged well beyond the radar,” Adams said. “It’s an important partner. It’s a city that has really shown an incredible interest and resolve in terms of supporting Olympic sport, and that is a big deal.”

Although a trials location is still being considered, Olympic officials cite OKC as a frontrunner.

More Olympic expansion

USA Canoe/Kayak, the national governing body for the sport, moved its headquarters to OKC in 2011. It is the only Olympic sport with its headquarters in Oklahoma.

“When you are paddling with raids, your goal is to align your boat with as much momentum as possible,” said Joe Jacobi, CEO of USA Canoe/ Kayak. “As an organization, it’s our job to put our organization around the most momentum as possible and look at what’s happening here in Oklahoma City. This is what you want to be around when your goal is to win Olympic medals.”

When completed in 2016, the $45 million facility will be open to professional athletes and the public. Course bridges and pathways also will be open to the public, along with a restaurant that overlooks the rapids.

Riversport Rapids will complement the established Boathouse District, which is home to rowing training facilities, a fitness center and SandRidge Skytrail, a facility that features a zip line across the river.

‘Unfair advantage’

Rowing officials realize that the Boathouse District and Riversport Rapids is a destination for professional athletes and also hope both will help establish more local athletes.

“When you have young kids that grow up in a community that live a 15-minute drive from this kind of water, this kind of coaching, this kind of equipment, it almost becomes an unfair advantage to being born someplace else in the country,” said Jacobi, a 1992 gold medal winner in slalom doubles canoe.

The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma each have rowing teams and train there. There are also youth camps and programs training a new generation of rowers, thanks to the benefits of the transformed Oklahoma River.

“An Olympic gold medal dream can truly start right here in Oklahoma City,” Jacobi said.

A public attraction

While many envision the day when professional whitewater rafters train at the new course, Mike Knopp, director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, visualizes a different picture.

“Imagine yourself less than two years from now in Bricktown,” Knopp said. “You have some dinner and you decide to go whitewater rafting. In what other American city can you do that?”

Knopp said the public course will offer a 90-minute traning session with instructor-supervised time on the rapids.

“This is for everybody in the community,” Knopp said. “We are going to have all sorts of different ways to get wet, get on the water and have fun.”

In recent years, OKC has completed large-scale projects that transformed parts of the city. Bricktown converted obsolete warehouses into an entertainment district, and streetscape projects downtown created bike lanes and sidewalks. While those projects allowed locals to enjoy features found in other cities nationwide, the whitewater center and Boathouse District are unique both nationally and worldwide.

“We are the only city in America doing this,” Knopp said. “This is a differentiator for Oklahoma City.”

http://okgazette.com/2014/10/29/whitewater-facility-boosts-oklahoma-rivers-transformation/

Please let it be something like this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/The_Margaret_Hunt_Hill_Bridge.jpg

Soooooooooo if we built this but made it better that would make Dallas jealous? Maybe?

soooooooooo if we built this but made it better that would make dallas jealous? Maybe?

quit

Soooooooooo if we built this but made it better that would make Dallas jealous? Maybe?


Steve Lackmeyer 11:25 a.m. I do see more entertainment venues being added to the mix. There is possibly one development that could really change the game and even be something that would make Dallas and Kansas City jealous. How's that for a teaser?

Steve's has got everyone's brain cells bouncing around like pin-pong balls in a popcorn machine. A classic 'wild goose' chase; like the boy scouts' snipe hunts

Soooooooooo if we built this but made it better that would make Dallas jealous? Maybe?


Steve's has got everyone's brain cells bouncing around like pin-pong balls in a popcorn machine. A classic 'wild goose' chase; like the boy scouts' snipe hunts

I have no idea what Steve has indirectly been referring to as "the jealousy project"; but you folks need to think MUCH bigger if it's something to make Dallas or KC jealous. One new skyscraper, an average mixed-use development (even one that's awesome for OKC) or a nice bridge isn't going to make those markets jealous. It would take something truly HUGE to make those markets blush. Heck most people in those markets if they don't have some sort of family or business ties to our market, don't even care about our market or pay attention to it. It'd take something big to divert attention TO us.

I have no idea what Steve has indirectly been referring to as "the jealousy project"; but you folks need to think MUCH bigger if it's something to make Dallas or KC jealous. One new skyscraper, an average mixed-use development (even one that's awesome for OKC) or a nice bridge isn't going to make those markets jealous. It would take something truly HUGE to make those markets blush. Heck most people in those markets if they don't have some sort of family or business ties to our market, don't even care about our market or pay attention to it. It'd take something big to divert attention TO us.

Does either Dallas or KC have a facility like this? If not maybe THIS is it?

I have no idea what Steve has indirectly been referring to as "the jealousy project"; but you folks need to think MUCH bigger if it's something to make Dallas or KC jealous. One new skyscraper, an average mixed-use development (even one that's awesome for OKC) or a nice bridge isn't going to make those markets jealous. It would take something truly HUGE to make those markets blush. Heck most people in those markets if they don't have some sort of family or business ties to our market, don't even care about our market or pay attention to it. It'd take something big to divert attention TO us.

PS With the exception of this year I bet sports fans in KC would have traded the Royals for an NBA team. Just my opinion.

Does either Dallas or KC have a facility like this? If not maybe THIS is it?

MAPS3 had passed long before he made that statement about "possibly" getting that project and by at least a year earlier than the statement it was clear the Whitewater course was the least likely of any of the projects in the "River Improvements" section to be dropped.

MAPS3 had passed long before he made that statement about "possibly" getting that project and by at least a year earlier than the statement it was clear the Whitewater course was the least likely of any of the projects in the "River Improvements" section to be dropped.

Yeah I had already thought of that but once it was posted, oh well. Do you know if Dallas or KC has a facility like this though?

Nope.. only 5 other such facilities in the United states.

Nope.. only 5 other such facilities in the United states.

5? I thought there was only one other.

And can we please not let this stupid KC/Dallas/Jealous thing ruin another thread on this board please?

5? I thought there was only one other.

And can we please not let this stupid KC/Dallas/Jealous thing ruin another thread on this board please?

Just to be clear my comment although was based off of the chatter from Steve's jealousy thing was a general jealousy statement, aka just excited about how awesome and fairly unique this will be for OKC. I know my wife and I and some of our friends are ready to give it a go when it opens! It will be open to the public right???

Nope.. only 5 other such facilities in the United states.

Don't think so, I think there is one in Charlotte, NC and another in Maryland. I think ours is the third to be built, and if I understand it, the most state of the art. Not saying there's not rivers all over the country to float. There are others in Europe though.

I have no idea what Steve has indirectly been referring to as "the jealousy project"; but you folks need to think MUCH bigger if it's something to make Dallas or KC jealous. One new skyscraper, an average mixed-use development (even one that's awesome for OKC) or a nice bridge isn't going to make those markets jealous. It would take something truly HUGE to make those markets blush. Heck most people in those markets if they don't have some sort of family or business ties to our market, don't even care about our market or pay attention to it. It'd take something big to divert attention TO us.


Something that would make Kansas City & Dallas markets jealous?

Whatever it is metro, it is got to be one of Oklahoma City's best kept secrets... ...too big for us to believe that the 'pie fell from the sky.'

Steve is obviously laughing about this teaser; whatever it is? When he drops this bombshell; it will blow a lot of brain breaker boxes & fuses simultaneously.

Only big thing that I think that would make those cities jealous would be an Olympic Park with a stadium, athletic village housing and the works. That would be more in the sports specular realm than entertainment.

I couldn't imagine an Oklahoma City & Tulsa joint Olympic bid sometime after 2024.

Tulsa 2024 Olympics? Oklahoma's Second-Largest City Inquires About Hosting Games (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/tulsa-2024-olympics-oklahoma_n_3172404.html)

5? I thought there was only one other.

If Wikipedia is correct here are other artificial whitewater courses in the US.

Dickerson Whitewater Course | Potomac Whitewater Racing Center (http://potomacwhitewater.org/whitewater-courses/mirant/)

U.S. National Whitewater Center | The U.S. National Whitewater Center is the world?s premier outdoor recreation and environmental education center offering activities such as Rafting, Biking, Climbing, Ziplines, Eco Trekking and more. (http://usnwc.org/)

Adventure Sports Center Intl | McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group (http://mclaughlinwhitewater.com/projects/adventure-sports-asci/)

There are others that are not completely artificial

Steve is obviously laughing about this teaser; whatever it is? When he drops this bombshell; it will blow a lot of brain breaker boxes & fuses simultaneously.



No... he's not. He's already addressed how overblown that statement has become several times and told people to stop obsessing over it. I don't understand why it keeps getting dragged up over and over again when he's been pretty clear that it was just another neat concept that will probably never leave the drawing boards. We've seen a lot of them. Go look at the Bricktown towers thread for another nice example.

Let's get back to talking about the facility that this thread is supposed to be about.

Anyone had any experience with a similar white water facility? Every time I look at the concept art I have a hard time visualizing how it actually works. It really looks like the type of thing that will be awesome somehow, but I just can't see how it compares to the real thing.

Anyone had any experience with a similar white water facility? Every time I look at the concept art I have a hard time visualizing how it actually works. It really looks like the type of thing that will be awesome somehow, but I just can't see how it compares to the real thing.

This will give you an idea about what the experience is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na76ps2lNx8

If Wikipedia is correct here are other artificial whitewater courses in the US.

Dickerson Whitewater Course | Potomac Whitewater Racing Center (http://potomacwhitewater.org/whitewater-courses/mirant/)

U.S. National Whitewater Center | The U.S. National Whitewater Center is the world?s premier outdoor recreation and environmental education center offering activities such as Rafting, Biking, Climbing, Ziplines, Eco Trekking and more. (http://usnwc.org/)

Adventure Sports Center Intl | McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group (http://mclaughlinwhitewater.com/projects/adventure-sports-asci/)

There are others that are not completely artificial


5? I thought there was only one other.

To a large extent the USNWC and ours are the only two that basically will have everything the other has at every level of rafting/slalom kayaking/amenities (though some of the non-whitewater amenities in the USNWC are in the course proper are over by our adjacent boathouses and they do not have any sort of flat water course in the near vicinity). The Adventure Sport Center's has just as nice a recreational channel and has really nice amenities (though less than either USNWC or ours will) but does not offer a similarly difficult competitive channel. Dickerson's course is at least a tier or more below the other courses and has pretty spartan amenities. For some reason I was kind of thinking there was another one similar to Adventure Sport Center somewhere in New England but I am not going to check on that tonight, maybe it was one of the semi natural courses.

Realistically whitewater courses are few and far enough between they are not really competing for local and rarely for regional tourism, which will probably be the majority of the business. There will be some competition for hosting national events but most years that will probably just be a slight bump to the normal competitor numbers coming to events held. In some ways it would be nice it there were more whitewater hot spots in surrounding states since that would help with our ability to draw people to have a similar level events to what we do in rowing.

Dallas does have a small whitewater park but it is at a vastly smaller scale than any of those listed above, it is like two falls and a park lot.

Of course by the nature of this kind of facility there are going to be considerably differences between them. There is not a standard type of course but there are some requirements for competitive courses.

No... he's not. He's already addressed how overblown that statement has become several times and told people to stop obsessing over it. I don't understand why it keeps getting dragged up over and over again when he's been pretty clear that it was just another neat concept that will probably never leave the drawing boards. We've seen a lot of them. Go look at the Bricktown towers thread for another nice example.
He's said multiple times he's thinks it going to be built. He's also said it is IN BRICKTOWN and he wasn't necessarily literal by saying it was going to make Dallas jealous.

He's said multiple times he's thinks it going to be built. He's also said it is IN BRICKTOWN and he wasn't necessarily literal by saying it was going to make Dallas jealous.


This is the problem. As a writer, he should know that words have meanings. He should mean what he says and say what he means. Him saying it was overblown or not literal sounds like CYA to me. If this thing comes to fruition and it truly is enough to make Dallas and KC jealous, I will happily eat my crow. But it seems that the way he's backtracking on this, it may not be quite as cool as he originally stated and is trying to cover for it now.

can we keep this thread on topic?

if you drive by and see the giant hole they are digging on the eastern side of the job, that's where the pump building is going

Update:

Whitewater park

The board also recommended changes to the MAPS 3 whitewater park construction budget to further reduce costs by about $246,000, primarily by choosing less expensive options for finished concrete, galvanized steel, pump station equipment and lighting.

Changes include a $114,200 budget addition for removal of about 40 truckloads of debris uncovered since clearing and excavation work began in September. The park is being built on the north bank of the Oklahoma River in the Boathouse District.

MAPS 3 Program Manager David Todd said digging has uncovered debris including concrete, pipe and trees dumped along the river years ago. It must be removed before soil can be compacted to support the concrete channels and ponds comprising the park.

The city council previously agreed to $4 million in reductions to keep the project within budget. Including land and design, overall costs are about $45 million.
Asbestos removal adds to MAPS 3 expo center project costs | News OK (http://newsok.com/asbestos-removal-adds-to-maps-3-expo-center-project-costs/article/5368737)

got some pretty good photos of the excavation today for the pump house, will try and post them later

I can see it now.... a future article in The Oklahoman about how it will cost additional funds to fix the cheaply purchased pumps because the city couldn't do it right the first time. I really hope this place doesn't fall apart cause the city chooses to stay "under budget".

I can see it now.... a future article in The Oklahoman about how it will cost additional funds to fix the cheaply purchased pumps because the city couldn't do it right the first time. I really hope this place doesn't fall apart cause the city chooses to stay "under budget".

If you've noticed, none of the major stuff that consists of the backbone of the facility was really cut. The pumps, along with some other crucial components, were bid out earlier this year and pre-purchased by the city. No reason to worry about budget cuts affecting those items.

I wish some folks would quit chalking this incredible project up as a loss over the cut of some lockers, benches and trees.

I can see it now.... a future article in The Oklahoman about how it will cost additional funds to fix the cheaply purchased pumps because the city couldn't do it right the first time. I really hope this place doesn't fall apart cause the city chooses to stay "under budget".

Do you have real information to have concern or just being negative?

Do you have real information to have concern or just being negative?

Why do you have to assume my post is negative. It's just pure speulation. Deal with it.

The city is ruined.

got some pretty good photos of the excavation today for the pump house, will try and post them later

Get those pics up, bub.

Why do you have to assume my post is negative. It's just pure speulation. Deal with it.

I wasn't assuming it is negative, it IS negative.