Press Releases
Poudre River Whitewater Park on Track to Open this Summer
Released on Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Contact Information
- Kurt Friesen, Director, Park Planning and Development, City of Fort Collins, 970.221.6618, a2ZyaWVzZW5AZmNnb3YuY29t
- Matt Day, Project Manager, Park Planning and Development, City of Fort Collins, 970.224.6096, bWRheUBmY2dvdi5jb20=
Fort Collins - Anticipation is rising for the new Poudre River Whitewater Park, especially as spring runoff and sunny days tempt river-goers to rushing waters. The new park will be located just north of Old Town. Construction is underway and is scheduled for completion later this summer.
"The Poudre River Whitewater Park will be an incredible addition to our city. It will offer a unique opportunity to experience the river in downtown,†said Kurt Friesen, Director of Park Planning and Development.
Construction for the $11.5 million project began in August 2018. Passersby can see the changes as the park continues to take shape. The pedestrian bridge that spans the Cache la Poudre River was installed via crane recently, and the in-river features are beginning to emerge. There is still much work to complete before the project opens, including boulder wall construction, stair and walk construction, bridge decking, the south bank plaza, all walks and trails, street improvements, utility connections, and parking lot and landscape enhancements.
With spring runoff and warm weather in the immediate future, a float down the river is enticing. However, the City of Fort Collins stresses the importance of safety near the river. The Poudre River Whitewater Park site is full of hazards, including large equipment, open trenches, unvegetated steep slopes, and large unstable boulder piles. This is still an active construction site and trespassing is prohibited from College Avenue to the BNSF railroad bridge in the fenced-off worksite, along riverbanks, and on the river.
Access to the Poudre River Whitewater Park will be available later this summer when construction is complete. A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for fall 2019. For more information and updates about the progress of the park, visit fcgov.com/parkplanning.
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"The Poudre River Whitewater Park will be an incredible addition to our city. It will offer a unique opportunity to experience the river in downtown,†said Kurt Friesen, Director of Park Planning and Development.
Construction for the $11.5 million project began in August 2018. Passersby can see the changes as the park continues to take shape. The pedestrian bridge that spans the Cache la Poudre River was installed via crane recently, and the in-river features are beginning to emerge. There is still much work to complete before the project opens, including boulder wall construction, stair and walk construction, bridge decking, the south bank plaza, all walks and trails, street improvements, utility connections, and parking lot and landscape enhancements.
With spring runoff and warm weather in the immediate future, a float down the river is enticing. However, the City of Fort Collins stresses the importance of safety near the river. The Poudre River Whitewater Park site is full of hazards, including large equipment, open trenches, unvegetated steep slopes, and large unstable boulder piles. This is still an active construction site and trespassing is prohibited from College Avenue to the BNSF railroad bridge in the fenced-off worksite, along riverbanks, and on the river.
Access to the Poudre River Whitewater Park will be available later this summer when construction is complete. A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for fall 2019. For more information and updates about the progress of the park, visit fcgov.com/parkplanning.
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