https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.co...QWOTfBXQT2wyRdh_GRvlbcQji37A139QjqKOdEMM



A $50 million, government-backed whitewater park and outdoor fun center is about to start construction on the outskirts of downtown Montgomery, and it’s a project that local officials are betting will redefine the area as a young professional and family destination.

The main attraction is a 25-acre central park that will feature rafting and kayaking along a man-made whitewater course that twists through restaurants, shops, a beer garden, an outdoor concert venue and a hotel and conference center. But the wider, 120-acre site will feature a climbing tower, zip lines, mountain biking, rope courses and more.

Officials say the initial footprint is just a start because it's expected to inspire growth across the area over time. Core attractions will stretch all the way to the Alabama River, though the park will not use any river water for its whitewater course.

The planned Montgomery site is off Maxwell Boulevard, sandwiched between Interstate 65 and Maxwell Air Force Base. It's an exit that’s been little more than a pit stop for beachgoers, even as the city’s revitalized downtown exploded with growth a few blocks away.

Two entrances are being planned on either side of the historic Chappell House, an 1854 cottage that's on the National Register of Historic Places. There are plans to restore that cottage and incorporate it into the park's administrative functions, part of a wave of changes expected to sweep through the area in the years ahead.
Expect more tourists, improved quality of life, officials say

The park is happening thanks to a pool of public and private funding poured into a cooperative district controlled by Montgomery County, which is pumping about $35 million into the project. The city is contributing about $16 million worth of land. The city has long owned the land and bought the last handful of homes on the site over the last few years. The last resident will leave by Sept. 1.

They expect the deals to pay off. Assuming just 64,000 out-of-town visitors a year, roughly the financial break-even point for the park, economist Keivan Deravi estimates an annual impact of $6 million. Deravi said those figures don't include use by what he calls "hardcore" whitewater enthusiasts, or anyone who lives close enough to drive here.

"Then you get into incidental tourists. That’s where the money is," he said.

The Montgomery Zoo draws about 200,000 visitors a year. The whitewater park's backers estimate total annual attendance at almost 300,000, and its projected impact skyrockets if it approaches that level of activity.

Megan McKenzie talks about her idea to bring a whitewater rafting center to Montgomery Montgomery Advertiser
New whitewater park will be similar to Charlotte Olympic facility

A similar park was built in 2006 in Charlotte, North Carolina, using a similar approach and some of the same team members as the Montgomery park. Called the U.S. National Whitewater Center, that North Carolina facility now stretches over 1,300 acres and rakes in more than $22 million a year, according to a study by engineering company S20 Design. It's about a 45-minute drive from downtown but still creates an estimated $37 million annual impact and supports 700 jobs.

The Montgomery plan has been in the works for years under the code name “project catalyst” with the idea that it will kick off a new wave of expansion for the area, and for the city as a whole. “You don’t want to do a project that’s one and done,” said Ellen McNair, vice president of corporate development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

They expect more private investment to follow, stretching into one of the poorest areas of Montgomery and connecting it to downtown’s thriving convention and tourism business. Development officials compared it to the arrival of Riverwalk Stadium and the Montgomery Biscuits, which touched off a burst of new hotels, restaurants and entertainment nearby.
A whitewater park and outdoor center in downtown Montgomery will include a beer garden, a hotel, restaurants, shops and more.

A whitewater park and outdoor center in downtown Montgomery will include a beer garden, a hotel, restaurants, shops and more. (Photo: Liquid Design/contributed)

They say this project has other potential benefits. For instance, Montgomery's first responders currently travel to Colorado for swift water rescue training. Once the park is open, they can save on travel and do it here — and first responders from across the nation can train in Montgomery, as well.

Officials also expect it to improve the quality of life here in a way that will make it easier to recruit employers and young talent.

Construction is expected to start this fall, with a targeted opening of spring 2022.

VisionLand 2.0 only the government is backing this one. Sounds solid.

Whitewater... thats racist

I'm pretty sure all of the local guvments kicked in some money for Larry Langford's disaster.

That's going to make Point Mallard look inviting.

they should be able to find some employees at the homeless shelter across the street. who the hell builds a park like this on that side of town? Im assuming this is going to be in the location of the old Riverside housing projects thats the only piece of property I know of over there large enough to accomodate it.

If Alvin Holmes was still in office that would have already been brought up

It will be nice for about two weeks until the aborigines take it over. It will be like the caddies taking over the pool in the movie, Caddyshack.

I've been to the one in Charlotte, NC. It's awesome. But it's a money pit and ive been told it gets nowhere near breakeven. This was as of 5 years ago. Of course profit or breakeven is not their objective, just saying.

just like the shithole in Bessemer

But 4x worse

Wonder who's brother in law is selling those projections?

Interesting. I read the article on WSFA about an hour ago. As a resident of the city the first thought that came into my mind is how will the city keep it safe. Will there be a admission charge to keep out the thugs out. Is this something to keep the Air Force personnel happy seeing how they have mentioned moving the Air War College.

The majority of Montgomerians with the means to spend money on outdoor activities leave Montgomery for the weekend.

THAT IS THE BEST IDEA FOR A PARK IN THE HISTORY OF MONTGONERY ALONG WITH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL.. PERIOD.

Finally something that utilzes the river. RSA is doing it. Essentially the GOLF LEVEL ELITE for Whitewater.

I see it becoming an issue within 6 months, hope they aren't looking to make money on it.

It's in front of Powder Magazine Park and 100s of bass fisherman put their boats in there. Well maybe not 100s but there are 1 or 2 that put their boats in there and they think it's safe.

It's been my observation that hoodlums don't budget their money like you and I. Hoes, blunts, 15 inch woofers, Hennessey, FUBU, gold teef, tickets to water parks. It's all discretionary spending.

You had me at beer garden....

Yes, and 1 of those fisherman found a bullet riddled body floating there earlier this summer.