On Tuesday, May 17, the Raleigh City Council APPROVED the current plan for the Falls Whitewater Park. This is a tremendous step forward for the project. Several new doors are now open to us and several new challenges now face us. The Falls Whitewater Park Committee now plans to apply for federal 501(c)(3) designation as a non-profit in order to begin soliciting funding to begin actual work on the project. When funds allow, we will begin the permitting phases of the project and then, with permits, will begin actual construction.
The Committee owes several individuals and groups a special thanks for help, work and guidance along the way so far, including, but not limited to:
•The Raleigh City Council
•The Raleigh City Parks and Greenway Advisory Board
•The 446 people that signed our online petition to put the project forward
•All of the paddlers that attended public meetings to show their support
•The Carolina Canoe Club for past financial and moral support
•Tom Freeman, US Army Corps of Engineers
•Former Raleigh City Councilman Roger Koopman
•Sig Hutchinson
•Tom Blue and Ellis & Winters
•Cindy Szwarckop and Stewart Engineering
•Risa Shimoda John Anderson and McLaughlin Whitewater Design Grou
•Kathy Capps, Vic Lebsock and Seth Yearout-Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department
•Our own inimitable committee chair, Elizabeth Gardner