Look! A Jackson in the water! Emily Jackson rodeoing at River Fest 2005. Photo by David Bobzien.
It’s that time of year again- the river is up and the boats are in the water. River Fest!
When the park opened in 2004, critics of the project fell silent as tourists and residents flocked to downtown to play in the water (and fill up our restaurants and spend money in our local businesses.) The whitewater park is a critical addition to the great outdoors we have here in Reno- critical to the attraction of quality businesses and the retention of skilled workers (who like to play outside.)
NPR has a radio story this morning about the park: “Reno bets on kayaking dollars.”
Be sure also to check out Myrna the Minx’s post on the fest as well as Yukon Sully’s. The Reno Gazette-Journal also has a story today (includes a River Fest schedule). And don’t forget the City of Reno’s rivercam.
We’ll see you down by the river!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] David Bobzien alets us to a cool NPR story on Reno’s whitewater park and festival. They interview Charlie Albright, Reno’s godfather of kayaking. Not only is he an award winning kayaker and past member of the U.S. Whitewater Team and U.S. Canoe and Kayak Team, he is also president of the Sierra Nevada Whitewater Club which throws a mean Christmas party at Patagonia every year. He’s also one of the nicest fellows you’ll meet, and you can find him in or around the river most days of the year. Charlie is a true Reno institution that helped convince the city to build the park, set up the slalom course on the south fork, and generally promotes and nutures the local kayaking scene. In redevelopment terms, the whitewater park costs the city a measly 1.5 million dollars and is considered a model catalyst project, or a project that spawns the development of other major redevelopment projects. It could be the best 1.5 million the city ever spent. [...]