Design firms hired for River Recreation Park

Contacts:
Wendy Larimore, Project Manager, 384-4060, ext. 324
Amy Stahl, Community Relations, 384-4060, ext. 304 or 869-0637 cell

MCLAUGHLIN TO COLLABORATE WITH 2 LOCAL FIRMS
FOR DESIGN, ENGINEERING OF BOISE RIVER RECREATION PARK

(Boise, Idaho) - The City of Boise has hired the McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group (MWDG), a Denver-based company, and CH2MHill and Quadrant Consulting, two local consultants, to design the River Recreation Park located on the Boise River between Main Street and Veterans Memorial Park.

A team of Boise City employees and volunteers reviewed proposals and recommended the McLaughlin team for the project. The contract was approved Feb. 12 by the Boise City Council.

The project, which will be constructed in a section of river that was channelized during the mid-1900s, will provide a more natural riparian setting and improved fish habitat. Special features include in-river drops, chutes and boulder obstacles in addition to seating areas for pedestrians.

Since 1984, engineers and architects at the MWDG have designed more than 20 river recreation parks. These range from local recreational parks on natural rivers to the highest level competitive course such as the 1996 Olympic Whitewater course on the Ocoee River in Tennessee and the Adventure Sports Center International course, the first mountain top man-made recirculating whitewater channel in Maryland. These are the only man-made U.S. courses that have been selected to host World Cup Slalom, US Freestyle Nationals, and Olympic events. The team is also currently working on a recreational river park planned in Hailey, Idaho.

CH2MHill and Quadrant have experience working on local hydraulic modeling, habitat and wetlands projects as well as mitigation design along the Boise River corridor and state and federal permit processes.

The public is invited to provide feedback about design elements at an open house at 6:30 p.m. April 2 at Whitter Elementary School, 301 N. 29th St.

The contract cost is $279,150, funded by the City of Boise under the direction of Boise Parks & Recreation. The Mayor and City Council have committed $750,000 of city funds for the park. A volunteer committee called Friends of the Parks is seeking private donations for the $4 million project.

For information about the park design project, please contact Wendy Larimore at 384-4060, ext. 324 or wlarimore@cityofboise.org. ###

Contact: Wendy Larimore, Project Manager (wlarimore@cityofboise.org)

Ray Neef, MD Boise River Recreation Park
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