River Rafting and Kayaking

Kelly's Whitewater Park in Cascade Idaho

Thanks to a generous gift from Mark and Kristina Pickard of Miami, Cascade's whitewater park will become a reality. The Pickards, who own a vacation home in Tamarack and are often anonymous philanthropists, have stepped firmly into the spotlight by committing $500,000 to the Friends of the Cascade Whitewater Park. The whitewater park will be named in honor of Kristina’s late sister, Kelly Brennan. “We love Valley County and are excited by the stimulus the park will create both in Cascade as well as in neighboring areas”, the Pickards said.

This donation puts the whitewater park fundraising effort over the top. In response, the engineering and other efforts are to proceed with all possible speed. According to Cascade Mayor, R.W. Carter, the in-river construction of Kelly Whitewater Park can be largely completed this fall provided all timelines can be met and be open in the Spring of 2010.

Preliminary economic analysis suggests that Kelly Whitewater Park will add in excess of $1,000,000 in retail business annually to area merchants. Further economic studies are in progress at the University of Idaho, with reports due this May. Whitewater parks have been wildly successful in improving the economies of their home cities and surrounding areas.

For many years, Cascade has envisioned a greenbelt running from bridge to bridge for walking and bicycling. The Kelly Whitewater Park is expected to be the foundation of what is now envisioned as a 200 acre recreation park along the river. The park will feature three manmade rapids offering kayakers, rafters, canoeists and even tubers an exciting place to play and train. Scheduled competitions will attract a large number of spectators who will undoubtedly enjoy the Kelly Whitewater Park and surrounding Cascade area.

“I would like to thank Mark and Kristina,” said Mayor Carter, who is also the Friends of Cascade Whitewater Park Board President, “for their interest and faith, in what will be Cascade's first whitewater park.” The whitewater park idea began in 2006, with Mayor Carter pushing for the project, knowing the economic benefit it could bring to the Cascade area. The Friends of the Cascade Whitewater Park was organized in 2007 and was granted official non-profit status in 2008.

For more information please contact, Mayor Dick Carter at 208-382-4279.