Shoals Whitewater Park and
Outdoor Sports Center
- With the creation of a facility of this
scope, large scale outdoor events could be staged at the Shoals
Whitewater Center and draw competitors and spectators from across the
country and around the world.
- Local Canoe/Kayak Events: Alabama Cup
Races (add new races here at the center to combine with long standing
events on the Locust and Mulberry Forks of the Warrior River)
- National Level Canoe/Kayak Events:
U.S. National Championships, U.S. Team Trials, U.S. Olympic Trials in
Olympic Years, U.S. Cup Races, U.S. Freestyle Nationals, U.S. Freestyle
Team Trials etc.
- ICF
(International Canoe Federations) Whitewater World Championships, World
Cups or Pan American Championships
- Other Events:
Mountain Bike Races, Triathalons, Weekly Kids Races - imagine dropping
your child off for "kayak practice" after school.
Special events:
- A key focus of the center will be on
canoe and kayak instruction - especially beginners. By
welcoming and nurturing beginners, the center will create business
vitality and growth from "repeat" customers. If you've ever
had the pleasure of visiting the Nantahala Outdoor Center in western
NC, imagine that as our vision for a business model.
- Guided trips to local free-flowing
Alabama rivers and creeks during rainy season: The Locust Fork, The
Mulberry Fork, Little River Canyon, the creeks of Sand Mountain,
etc...
- An onsite outfitting store specializing
in canoe/kayak boats and equipment.
- The site will serve as an Olympic
Training Center for aspiring and medal-winning whitewater athletes.
- The
whitewater course can be rented out to local and nearby
municipalities for fire department swift water rescue training.
Other whitewater related items:
- Create a recirculating whitewater
channel (approximately 2500-3000 feet in length) that provides
beginner to expert whitewater (Class I-IV).
- Located in the
southern U.S., the course and outdoor center will be open year
round.
- A lower holding pond would serve as
the water source and make-up water provided from Wilson Lake.
- Multiple pumps will control flows of
600-800 cfs around the artificial channel.
- A conveyor belt system will carry
rafts and kayaks from the holding pond back to the start pool.
- The course
will be divided into 3 sections:
The Whitewater Course:
The Vision:
- Rock climbing instruction, climbing
walls, ropes courses, etc.
- Guided trips to natural climbing areas in
North Alabama
- Mountain bike trails (bike sales,
rentals, repair)
- Walking and hiking trails
- Connect trail systems directly to the
hotel and conference center and in the future with planned "river
walk" trails between O'Neal Bridge and Wilson Dam.
- Flyfishing/flycasting
instruction and guided trips to Sipsey Wilderness etc.
- Disc Golf Course and Pro-Shop
- Fishing and Picnicing
- Flatwater
canoe and kayak lake access
- In the age of video games and fast food
this park would promote healthy lifestyles, exercise, and the
Olympic ideal.
- Enhance the quality of life in the Shoals
- Draw college students to the
University of North Alabama
- Millions of dollars spent on gas, food
and lodging for visitors expected to visit the center
and the quad cities each year
- 50-100 new full time and seasonal jobs
added to the Shoals economy
- Attracting new outdoor related businesses
to locate near the whitewater center
- Help attract large corporations to locate
business operations in the Shoals
-
Revitalization of East Florence
Additional outdoor recreational features of the
center:
- A Beginner section (700-900 linear feet) of
class I-II whitewater
- An Intermediate/Freestyle section (700-900
linear feet) of class II-III whitewater
- And finish with a class
III-IV world class competition channel (1000-1200 linear feet).
Create a multi-use outdoor recreation center at Veteran's
Park (Florence, AL). The centerpiece of this facility would be a
recirculating artificial whitewater course designed to accomodate boaters of
all ages and skill levels. The course would be carefully designed to
nurture the beginner, satisfy the expert paddler, and provide a venue
for attracting national and international paddling events. The vision
for the park is to establish a year-round hub for whitewater and other
outdoor sports in the Tennessee Valley Region, and improve the quality
of life for the area while at the same time tastefully and architecturally
incorporating the Veteran's War Memorial into the parks green space.
One can imagine flags of every nation flying at the war memorial section of
the course during an international canoe/kayak event.
- By designing the course with easy river bank
access, large eddies and multiple "stopping" pools, a boater can chose
how much challenge they want to take on.
- Adjustable wave
shappers can change river features for variation and event specific
requirements.
Community benefits:
- Outfitter Store Sales (Boats, Bikes,
equipment,...)
- Whitewater, Climbing, and Flyfishing
Instruction
- Guided Outdoor trips to other North
Alabama locations
- National and
International events
- Olympic Caliber coaching and training
camps
- Corporate and Team Building events
(canoeing, kayaking, climbing, etc)
- Swiftwater
Rescue Training
Other park uses: