It's more than a whitewater park: It's the latest Montgomery game-changer
A few years ago, I heard a rumor that a group of individuals were working to bring a water park to Montgomery. They were thinking a lot bigger than that.
Much, much bigger.
Friday’s announcement of a multimillion dollar public, private partnership confirmed that it’s not a water park. It’s so much more. This 120-acre development, including an Olympic-rated man-made rapid course is a bold step in improving the quality of life in Montgomery and creating an ongoing revenue stream for the city and county.
It will help Montgomery evolve as a destination for families who now too often pass through our city on Interstate 65 without stopping as they travel to the beach or elsewhere.
Whitewater rafting will be just one aspect of the initiative. There will be rock climbing, bike and hiking trails, restaurants, music venues and a convention center. There is room for expansion, possibly even a hotel. Eventually there may even be zip lines crossing the river.
The project is conservatively estimated to generate about $6 million annually, not including revenue generated from other venues visited while staying in Montgomery.
As much as I’m thrilled to have a world class venue for my friends and family to visit, I am more excited about what this could mean for the economic development for our region as large employers consider quality of life and community culture.
Whitewater park is the latest positive addition to downtown development
Coupled with cultural attractions like Equal Justice Initiative's museum and memorial and investments like the Kress building renovation, the park will be a key component in drawing young professionals to live here and new businesses to employ them.
Selfishly, I am hoping it will have my children considering returning to Montgomery following college. Hopefully their peers will too, reversing a brain-drain trend of our best and brightest minds going off to school, rarely returning home as a professional looking to buy houses and start families.
Putting this project in motion is the same type of forward thinking that helped the Riverwalk Stadium transform downtown and bring in private investment that has continued for 15 years. This will extend that growth from downtown, west to Maxwell Boulevard. Being located next to Maxwell Air Force Base will allow for public and military safety training and build on our reputation as the military’s "Best Hometown in America."
As with any significant accomplishment, I am sure there will be some challenges along the way. I imagine it will be easier to overcome those challenges than it was to build a ballpark downtown.
Today, I am not focused on the obstacles. Today, I am grateful for the leaders that worked together to make this development a reality.
Michael Galvin is the president of the Montgomery Advertiser.
