lake frances whitewater park to get $15 million development

TULSA, Okla. -
Lake Frances, once an idyllic place, has deteriorated to decades-
The long nightmare on the Illinois River could return to glory as a top Thunder outdoor entertainment destination.
Dahe dam authority in public
A private partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, which plans to develop a state --of-the-
Art water park on River Illinois tour.
Construction costs are estimated at $15 million, according to Tulsa World.
The location is at the flood discharge of the old Lake, about 1.
5 miles north of WattsS. 59.
It also happens to be on a river about 8 miles downstream, a similar park run by the city of siloya Springs, Arkansas.
According to GRDA vice Ed Fite, the park provides inspiration for the planned facilities
President of scenic rivers and water quality.
The new public park will operate under the supervision of the scenic river of GRDA and will cover about 25-
Compared to Google Earth, 30 acres of land based on draft contours, including parking lots, roads and landscape paths.
The main attractions will be 1,000-foot long, 50-foot-
Wide side channel with seven drops of river-
Provides wave action for kayaks, surfers and potatoes.
\"It will clean up what many people know about eye nails and environmental issues, and if it comes up as we thought it would, it will not only correct those deficiencies, it can also add momentum to the strong economies of Adair and Delaware. \"
In a statement, the Walton Family Foundation stated that \"Whitewater Park will provide a national park for residents in northeastern Orlando and Northwest Arkansas
High quality living facilities also have the potential to attract tourists.
Improving the natural beauty of the river will also give the community a vested interest in water quality.
\"The Clean Water Bill license required to start the project is under standard review and may take months or more, as with any project, the United States saidS.
Branning Parrish, spokesman for the Army Corps of workers in Tulsa.
The permit was submitted in July 2018 and public comments were completed in August.
If the permit is approved and construction is started, it may take two to three years to complete the project, which depends largely on the weather and water level, Fite said.
\"We are pleased to work with the Wharton Family Foundation to make this project a reality,\" said GRDA chief executive Dan Sullivan . \".
\"This project contains two core commitments from GRDA --
Strive to seize the opportunity of economic development and do a good job in environmental protection.
Over the years, the new water park will attract thousands of visitors to Oklahoma City and have a significant positive economic impact on rural areas.
According to GRDA, water parks can attract 85,000 visitors a year, with an estimated economic impact of about $900,000 a year.
\"Tourism is a key industry, and it is essential to move our country forward,\" Lt said . \"Gov. Matt Pinnell.
\"Governor STIT and I are firmly committed to promoting and expanding all the great attractions provided by the natural resources of Homer.
We are very grateful for the vision, support and investment of the Walton Family Foundation and look forward to working together in the construction and opening up of the water park.
\"According to the Tulsa World Archives, the heyday of Lake Francis was decades ago.
James W. Tulsa industrialist
Sloan built a earth dam across the river to expand the existing range, named after his daughter Frances.
He added a power station to the dam and built a hotel and \"swank\" cabins and cabins.
Before World War II, the lake was a weekend resort for thousands of people across the region, with the dam collapsing before more reservoirs were built all over the city of Oklahoma.
In 1954, a large embankment was built in the city of Siloa springs, which was excavated as a source of water for the city and Watts and West Siloa springs.
But the lake is eventually blocked by silt, and the wide area in the river becomes a collection point for pollutants, including heavy metals.
Road dumping points for garbage and drug activity. An 8-
In the May 1990 flood, the base of the dam fell off the top, Fite said.
Siloya Springs still take water from the river, but it flows to a remote place
On-site storage facilities, he said.
\"Since then, there has been a lot of discussion about how to deal with it,\" said Fite . \".
When the city of siloya Springs began building a water park, Fite said he and he
City administrator David Cameron had a \"very heated discussion\" about the similar possibilities of Lake Francis \".
\"At this point it\'s starting to speed up, but, yes, the idea has been around for about eight to nine years,\" he said . \".
\"It would be great to see it move forward.
\"The work in the park must include improving the existing dam and building a\" staircase-
He said that step \"is characterized by both strengthening the existing structure, maintaining the water supply of Siloam Springs, and making the area around the dam safer by eliminating dangerous water flows.
The creation of the water park will also create a path for fish upstream movement for the first time in decades.
\"It\'s not designed to be a fish ladder, but it will basically work like a fish ladder,\" he said . \".
GRDA has been working with engineering Company Merrick & Company/McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group since March 2018 to obtain initial funding from the foundation to Design and plan for the region.
In October, GRDA chose the cross-land construction company.
As the ultimate builder
\"Right now, we are really doing due diligence in the planning and licensing phases,\" said Fite . \".
\"We have to wait until we get the permit and then we can move on.
From: information from Tulsa World, AP member exchange shared by Tulsa World.