Whitewater on the Big Sioux? Group wants kayak park, route
Whitewater on the Big Sioux?
Why not?
A small group of kayakers is eying a stretch of river in a north Sioux Falls park for a playground for paddlers.
Making it happen would involve adding features to the river bottom and banks that cause eddies and waves.
All those features would make the usual, easy-going trip down the Big Sioux a little more challenging and a little more fun, according to Mitchell Joldersma, a member of the South Dakota Canoe and Kayak Association.
On a recent evening at Lien Park off of North Cliff Avenue, Joldersma, 31, and his friend Dan Buys, 27, slide down a muddy bank into the Big Sioux River. It's a popular place for kayakers to launch and make the few-hour float to the Big Sioux Recreation Area in Brandon. They see that it could be so much more.
They both started out on recreational kayaks but found out it was way more fun to go down rapids.
"You need that rush," Joldersma said.
Related stories: Adaptive kayak event strips away limitations for the disabled
Racers compete in 72-mile kayak challenge
They travel all over Minnesota and Iowa, making a weekend out of their paddle trips. The nearest park is in Charles City, Iowa, four hours away.
Joldersma would like to have a nearby park where he can keep his skills up and someday teach his son to kayak.
"It would be sweet if it were in your backyard," he said.
The parks are built for use with whitewater kayaks, which can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to well over a thousand, but others can use it, too, and there's no fee to play. Other parks across the country attract people on tubes and boogie boards.
Joldersma picked Lien Park as the potential spot for a Sioux Falls whitewater park for a few reasons. As the river flows through there, it's running at a steady 250 cubic feet per second through most of the year. The river consistently is about 100 feet wide, and there's already park access.
Adding more parking and restrooms might be part of the plan.
Putting the park downtown where it would be most visible would be ideal for him, but because of the city's industrial past, disturbing the contaminated sediment there is not recommended.
Getting more people in the water will have added benefits for the river, as Buys sees it.
"People will try harder to keep it clean," he said.
The Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation department has heard the idea come up several times over the years.
Parks board member Kevin Nyberg said a whitewater park would be a plus for Sioux Falls and the Big Sioux River.
"The more we can utilize recreation of that river, the … better for our community," he said.
Before anyone can start building in the river, they need a plan — a feasibility study and the start of a design for the site. From there, they could apply for a permit to work in the river.
Joldersma is taking steps to start a nonprofit organization and begin fundraising efforts. The entire project, he estimates, could be done for $140,000 to $250,000. He thinks he can get private sponsors for that.
The payoff for the city would be huge, he said. Paddlers such as he and Buys travel hours to whitewater parks. It usually involves an overnight stay, eating out and buying snacks.
There's also a competitive circuit for whitewater kayaking.
From a tourism standpoint, it would be a great addition to the community, said Teri Schmidt, executive director of the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"There is always an attraction to water — whether it's fishing or kayaking," she said. "Why not take advantage of it?"
Get in touch with those planning the park by searching Sioux Falls White Water Park on Facebook or email siouxfallswhitewaterpark@hotmail.com.