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Whitewater Park stretch to close

Two-week maintenance effort begins Tuesday
Plenty of earth and rocks were moved last spring at Whitewater Park during construction of several water features for river-runners in the Animas River. On Tuesday, maintenance work will begin in the park. it should last about two weeks.

Those paddlers wanting to get an extra-early start to the season – yes, kayakers are already out and about – will have to avoid the new Whitewater Park for a couple of weeks.

On Tuesday, a city of Durango contractor will begin to move around some ungrouted rock that has become loose and poses a safety hazard, said Cathy Metz, director of parks and recreation.

Construction of water features in the Animas River at Whitewater Park – four bank-to-bank structures that included rock laid on bedrock and affixed in place with concrete – was completed last winter and spring.

“We knew some of the ungrouted rock would move, and we’d likely have to get back in during low flows,” Metz said Wednesday.

The plan is for the work to take about two weeks. The work will be only between the features that were built last year, Metz said. It’s being done in February while the river is low and before river-running season hits its stride.

“Once the river starts to come up, people will want to be getting on the river,” Metz said.

Kayakers have been spotted in the Animas around Whitewater Park this week, and some tubers even made an Animas pilgrimage, in dry suits, in late January.

The city has budgeted $20,000 for the work being done by F&M Construction of Bayfield.

Other projects are ongoing on the stream bank. The city recently razed part of a dirt mound alongside Camino del Rio to make it possible to reroute the Animas River Trail closer to the river. Historically, the trail has made an abrupt 90-degree turn to get around the mound and head back toward the river.

At the river bend at Smelter Rapid, the city will be building the Kiwanis Pavilion this year. The Kiwanis Club recently gave the city a check for $20,250 to fund the pavilion, Metz said.

johnp@durangoherald.com

Jun 2, 2014
Whitewater Park makes waves


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