Let Good Times Flow, Siloam Says

Every community motivated to remain vibrant conjures up dreams, pays consultants, elicits feedback from "stakeholders" and asks residents or wealthy benefactors for money in pursuit of that next big thing.

Whether it's a water park, a museum, an arts center, trails or an amusement park, municipalities all spend considerable time and effort on such quality of life issues, attempting to develop community attractions and events to make their locale attractive to new and existing residents and visitors.

Then, sometimes, a good idea just falls in your lap.

Siloam Springs will officially dedicate a new $2 million Whitewater Recreation Park on 40 acres along the Illinois River a few miles south of town later this month. It's the first park of its kind in Arkansas. That particular spot on the river has offered paddlers for some years the experience of moving waters, but somewhere in recent years, the Walton family of Walmart fame purchased land on both sides of the river. Then they offered the land to the city and commissioned a Boulder, Colo., engineering firm to develop a park with two drops for whitewater paddling. Siloam Springs officials, being intelligent people, jumped at the chance.

What happens at the park? Paddlers descend into "engineered" rapids that create a so-called jet effect in the river. The resulting current helps to bring paddlers back up the river after they go through the rapids. It's like kids getting off a roller coaster at an amusement park then running back around to the entrance to be thrilled again. Except in this case, paddlers get to stay in their boats and go again, and again, and again.

Kayaking and canoeing are growing in popularity as manufacturers develop more and more products at lower prices, making the activity more accessible. When it comes to perfect timing, Siloam Springs may have just found it.

A 2013 report by The Outdoor Foundation and the Coleman Co. noted more than 19 million Americans participated in paddling in 2012 on rivers, lakes, streams and other waterways in their communities. Kayaking was, by far, the most popular form of recreational paddling.

And now, Siloam Springs has an amenity that will draw paddling enthusiasts for miles around. It's precisely the kind of amenity one might expect entering The Natural State. The sport is clean and encourages physical activity in a fun way. It presents opportunities for families and the surrounding park will be a family friendly atmosphere.

It's impossible to measure the potential economic impact of such a development, but there's no question it's a great addition for Siloam Springs and the region that will draw people here while also giving local residents an outlet for recreation.

Siloam Springs will celebrate the new park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 28 with entertainment, vendors, demonstrations, kayaking lessons and free food for the first 500 people. Starting at 2 p.m., the park will feature a whitewater rodeo.

There's a lot to celebrate. The community and advocates of the sport owe a debt of gratitude to the Walton Family Foundation for an outstanding gift that will literally keep on giving for years to come, and kudos to the leaders of Siloam Springs for recognizing a great opportunity.