Whitewater Revitalization
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Making the news - Aug 1, 2007
Whitewater parks, kayaking and Baltimore have really been making the news lately. US Airways in flight magazine sported the ever famous picture of Bill Streuver paddling his 'yak across the Harbor along with a glowing review of Charm City - Sun article. Less than a week later, the Sun printed a piece from the AP about the coming completion of the Adventure Sports Center in Garrett County. More to come.
Charlotte, NC, Urban Whitewater - a Hooked article - May 15, 2007
An excellent discussion on the upcoming US National Whitewater Center, an entirely self contained course sporting over 4000 feet of water runs, 11 miles of hiking trails, climbing walls, a ropes course, a conference center, and more. The article addresses many high points, as well as concerns regarding these parks, and urban design in general. Whitewater Rising
Field Study Abroad - April 10, 2007
I just received a fellowship to spend a month in Greece studying traditional community design along waterways. Rhodes city on Rhodes island is the first city ever built along an urban plan, 2400 years ago. I will be out of the country May 16-June 17, and returning with entirely too much knowledge on the subject. This is very exciting, as it touches more on the community development side of the whitewater courses, which is often not visible enough. Anyone who wants a postcard, just drop me an address.
Gwynns Falls Trail Council On Board - Feb. 28, 2007
Last night's presentation to the GFTC was well received, they have extended their interest and support in the idea. As a further bonus, a city official made an unofficial statement of support as well. Next is to go to the next stage of infomation gathering and analysis - I will be spending lots of time downloading GIS files and trekking through the park with a GPS and camera. Launch date for phase two is tentatively set for the first week of June. Please let me know if you or your group is interested in helping with the surveys, or in a presentation on WWR.
Similar Project in the News - Feb. 4, 2007
A full-scope project taking place in Harrisburg Penn., the Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative, received quite favorable press in The Tribune-Democrat. Good read.
Progress Report - Jan. 31, 2007
A quick introduction of the idea was made to the Gwynns Falls Trail Council Jan. 23, prompting interest, a near overload in viewings of this site, and a full presentation to be made to the council Feb. 27.
Mission Statement Draft: A work in progress - Jan. 28, 2007
Whitewater Revitalization is an initiative drawing from the tenets of;
-New Urbanism
-Outdoor Sports: promotes leadership, environmental awareness and stewardship, use and enjoyment of public park spaces
-Green and sustainable practices
in order to revitalize all aspects of community in a healthy, comprehensive manner.
Goal: to build a park space that not only supports itself, but also benefits and completes its surrounding community.
Invitation - Jan. 26, 2007
please contact me with any questions, comments, or interest in getting involved.
karja@teracityspace.com
Open Letter - Jan. 23, 2007
Whitewater Course Parks: Enhancing Communities
An open letter regarding the use of the Gwynns Falls River as an avenue for comprehensive community revitalization by method of a whitewater course park and associated activities and development.
One hundred years ago, the Gwynns Falls River fulfilled a vital role in Baltimore’s existence – providing the city with water. More recently, it has provided the bay with trash during storms, troublemakers with a hideout and a unique recreational experience for adventurous daring types. With the work of the Gwynns Falls Trail Council, that has been changing in recent years, and the park is beginning to make a comeback. The big picture of a whitewater course along the river has the capability of affecting a positive impact on the entirety of its community and the Baltimore region at large.
Whitewater courses and parks have been popping up across America, and the world, with increasing frequency over the past 20 years. The redevelopment centered around the Confluence Park in lower downtown Denver is directly responsible for the area's quick and highly successful revitalization. Less than an hour away, the park in Golden, Colorado, showed a $1.9 million dollar economic benefit the first year after completion, and has been increasing every year since. Nearly every state has at least one park at least in the plans; Maryland itself has three, and the US Whitewater Hall of fame – attached to a 550 acre park - is currently under construction in Garrett County.
Of the total average attendance of these parks, only 10 percent are paddlers. In Golden, for example, the park brings in area youths, residents, retirees – I even spent 15 minutes talking to a 57 year old retired woman who walked 11 blocks to the park with a book and thermos of coffee every morning to sit in the enhanced natural amphitheater and watch the kayakers and then later browse around the shops and restaurants that had sprung up after the creation of the park. These parks also bring tourists, especially during world class paddling events that can now take place due to the better condition and enhanced play features along the river.
In many cases these parks are name makers as well. In August, Outside magazine ran a feature of the 18 best cities to live in, and 11 of those cities have a whitewater park in some stage of completion. So great is the growing hype around these parks that even the development bigs have begun getting involved. Two of the development leaders for the Mills Malls Corporation, dissatisfied with the suburban sprawl line of work, recently launched a company focused on bringing self-contained parks to major cities in every state, beginning with Washington DC.
In October, The Professional Paddlesports Association and the Shimoda Group hosted a largely un-advertised three day conference on the phenomenon, and were amazed at the number and diversity of those in attendance. Not only is this a successful growing trend, it is one that is actively and almost aggressively being sought out. It is an approach that I strongly feel bears further consideration.
Karja C. Hansen
What is a Whitewater course park? - Jan. 23, 2007
A whitewater course park is, very simply, a body of water possessing those features that allow for good boat use and play and its surrounding park area. In the past 20 years towns across America and the world have been enhancing this simple concept for greater community gain, with impressive results. Following is a brief rundown of the parks, their applications and benefits, as well as some of the aspects of the Gwynn’s Falls that suggest a great opportunity.
Basic Types
- Enhanced existing body of water
- Newly constructed, self contained
- Hybrid of the two
Potential investors
- The City
- Local businesses
- Local community
- Local athletes
- Regional and National interests
Audiences and Applications
- Recreation
- Community
- Education: environmental awareness, leadership, sports*
- Environment: awareness and use leads to better care of park spaces, and the play features themselves can be engineered to clean the water as it flows through.
- Tourist
- Competitive: locally, as well as drawing a national audience for competitions
Gwynns
- a 5.6 mile run boasting outstanding class I-IV rapids and an excellent rock garden; the mile north and south of Edmondson Avenue suggests itself as an excellent target area
– including all levels of terrain, excellent scenery, close communities and an upcoming public transportation line. In addition, the river has extensive outcroppings of rock that would provide a larger draw, and it all ties in with the existing trail.
*Many public and private schools, especially in the mid to northeast corridor, have added a kayaking program and/or team in recent years, and Baltimore City public schools have little to no physical education programs. In addition, outdoor sports have the ability of developing physical fitness and confidence in children who aren't skilled at more traditional team sports.
Whitewater parks, kayaking and Baltimore have really been making the news lately. US Airways in flight magazine sported the ever famous picture of Bill Streuver paddling his 'yak across the Harbor along with a glowing review of Charm City - Sun article. Less than a week later, the Sun printed a piece from the AP about the coming completion of the Adventure Sports Center in Garrett County. More to come.
Charlotte, NC, Urban Whitewater - a Hooked article - May 15, 2007
An excellent discussion on the upcoming US National Whitewater Center, an entirely self contained course sporting over 4000 feet of water runs, 11 miles of hiking trails, climbing walls, a ropes course, a conference center, and more. The article addresses many high points, as well as concerns regarding these parks, and urban design in general. Whitewater Rising
Field Study Abroad - April 10, 2007
I just received a fellowship to spend a month in Greece studying traditional community design along waterways. Rhodes city on Rhodes island is the first city ever built along an urban plan, 2400 years ago. I will be out of the country May 16-June 17, and returning with entirely too much knowledge on the subject. This is very exciting, as it touches more on the community development side of the whitewater courses, which is often not visible enough. Anyone who wants a postcard, just drop me an address.
Gwynns Falls Trail Council On Board - Feb. 28, 2007
Last night's presentation to the GFTC was well received, they have extended their interest and support in the idea. As a further bonus, a city official made an unofficial statement of support as well. Next is to go to the next stage of infomation gathering and analysis - I will be spending lots of time downloading GIS files and trekking through the park with a GPS and camera. Launch date for phase two is tentatively set for the first week of June. Please let me know if you or your group is interested in helping with the surveys, or in a presentation on WWR.
Similar Project in the News - Feb. 4, 2007
A full-scope project taking place in Harrisburg Penn., the Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative, received quite favorable press in The Tribune-Democrat. Good read.
Progress Report - Jan. 31, 2007
A quick introduction of the idea was made to the Gwynns Falls Trail Council Jan. 23, prompting interest, a near overload in viewings of this site, and a full presentation to be made to the council Feb. 27.
Mission Statement Draft: A work in progress - Jan. 28, 2007
Whitewater Revitalization is an initiative drawing from the tenets of;
-New Urbanism
-Outdoor Sports: promotes leadership, environmental awareness and stewardship, use and enjoyment of public park spaces
-Green and sustainable practices
in order to revitalize all aspects of community in a healthy, comprehensive manner.
Goal: to build a park space that not only supports itself, but also benefits and completes its surrounding community.
Invitation - Jan. 26, 2007
please contact me with any questions, comments, or interest in getting involved.
karja@teracityspace.com
Open Letter - Jan. 23, 2007
Whitewater Course Parks: Enhancing Communities
An open letter regarding the use of the Gwynns Falls River as an avenue for comprehensive community revitalization by method of a whitewater course park and associated activities and development.
One hundred years ago, the Gwynns Falls River fulfilled a vital role in Baltimore’s existence – providing the city with water. More recently, it has provided the bay with trash during storms, troublemakers with a hideout and a unique recreational experience for adventurous daring types. With the work of the Gwynns Falls Trail Council, that has been changing in recent years, and the park is beginning to make a comeback. The big picture of a whitewater course along the river has the capability of affecting a positive impact on the entirety of its community and the Baltimore region at large.
Whitewater courses and parks have been popping up across America, and the world, with increasing frequency over the past 20 years. The redevelopment centered around the Confluence Park in lower downtown Denver is directly responsible for the area's quick and highly successful revitalization. Less than an hour away, the park in Golden, Colorado, showed a $1.9 million dollar economic benefit the first year after completion, and has been increasing every year since. Nearly every state has at least one park at least in the plans; Maryland itself has three, and the US Whitewater Hall of fame – attached to a 550 acre park - is currently under construction in Garrett County.
Of the total average attendance of these parks, only 10 percent are paddlers. In Golden, for example, the park brings in area youths, residents, retirees – I even spent 15 minutes talking to a 57 year old retired woman who walked 11 blocks to the park with a book and thermos of coffee every morning to sit in the enhanced natural amphitheater and watch the kayakers and then later browse around the shops and restaurants that had sprung up after the creation of the park. These parks also bring tourists, especially during world class paddling events that can now take place due to the better condition and enhanced play features along the river.
In many cases these parks are name makers as well. In August, Outside magazine ran a feature of the 18 best cities to live in, and 11 of those cities have a whitewater park in some stage of completion. So great is the growing hype around these parks that even the development bigs have begun getting involved. Two of the development leaders for the Mills Malls Corporation, dissatisfied with the suburban sprawl line of work, recently launched a company focused on bringing self-contained parks to major cities in every state, beginning with Washington DC.
In October, The Professional Paddlesports Association and the Shimoda Group hosted a largely un-advertised three day conference on the phenomenon, and were amazed at the number and diversity of those in attendance. Not only is this a successful growing trend, it is one that is actively and almost aggressively being sought out. It is an approach that I strongly feel bears further consideration.
Karja C. Hansen
What is a Whitewater course park? - Jan. 23, 2007
A whitewater course park is, very simply, a body of water possessing those features that allow for good boat use and play and its surrounding park area. In the past 20 years towns across America and the world have been enhancing this simple concept for greater community gain, with impressive results. Following is a brief rundown of the parks, their applications and benefits, as well as some of the aspects of the Gwynn’s Falls that suggest a great opportunity.
Basic Types
- Enhanced existing body of water
- Newly constructed, self contained
- Hybrid of the two
Potential investors
- The City
- Local businesses
- Local community
- Local athletes
- Regional and National interests
Audiences and Applications
- Recreation
- Community
- Education: environmental awareness, leadership, sports*
- Environment: awareness and use leads to better care of park spaces, and the play features themselves can be engineered to clean the water as it flows through.
- Tourist
- Competitive: locally, as well as drawing a national audience for competitions
Gwynns
- a 5.6 mile run boasting outstanding class I-IV rapids and an excellent rock garden; the mile north and south of Edmondson Avenue suggests itself as an excellent target area
– including all levels of terrain, excellent scenery, close communities and an upcoming public transportation line. In addition, the river has extensive outcroppings of rock that would provide a larger draw, and it all ties in with the existing trail.
*Many public and private schools, especially in the mid to northeast corridor, have added a kayaking program and/or team in recent years, and Baltimore City public schools have little to no physical education programs. In addition, outdoor sports have the ability of developing physical fitness and confidence in children who aren't skilled at more traditional team sports.
Photo Gallery will go here