By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-968092.mp3
Dallas, TX – One of the seven North Texas Parks and Wildlife "Paddling Trails" announced yesterday will be short-circuited by the "Dallas Wave" - the city's four million dollar whitewater feature on the Trinity, just south of downtown. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
The Dallas Trinity Paddling Trail is supposed to be a ten mile trip from the Sylvan Boat Ramp north of downtown to Loop 12 in South Dallas. But it'll be a 3 mile trip from Sylvan to the Dallas Wave for now. The "Wave" -- two man-made whitewater waves for kayakers -- was supposed to open last week. But concerns about swift currents in the "canoe bypass", plus ongoing construction work caused another delay. The first recreational amenity in the Dallas Trinity River project is nearly three years behind schedule.
Longtime canoeist Charles Allen says the four million dollar river feature is dangerous.
Allen: The supposedly safe bypass is actually more hazardous than the whitewater side. The portage route is obstructed with construction equipment. And Parks and Rec has said that they're going to turn people around and tell them to go back upstream, against the current.
Allen says the turbulence in the whitewater bypass is much too strong for canoes. Trinity River project director Rebecca Rasor says engineers are working on that.
Rasor: We're trying to do some design tweaks on the canoe bypass channel to make sure that is a smooth ride.
Rasor says they have no idea how much the bypass fix will cost. Engineers should have a better idea next month. In the meantime, she says paddlers and kayakers should NOT try to portage through the construction site to put in again downriver.
Rasor: It's for their safety that we would suggest that they get out at that point.
City Council member Pauline Medrano chooses to remain optimistic.
Medrano: You could always see the glass half full or half empty on this. I think we'll figure it out and canoes will be going right by there in a matter of no time.
Trinity Project officials say The Wave and Canoe Bypass will be off limits until at least this fall.
Link: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/