Shooting the Rapids

Sept. 26, 2010

Shooting the Rapids
By Patrick Ivory
A whitewater river kayaking park in the middle of Petoskey?
It is easy to miss, but it is only a couple of blocks from downtown.
The Bear River flows beneath the bridge with the old-style concrete
railings on US-31/ W. Mitchell Street just south of downtown.
Underneath the bridge and a mile upstream, work is being completed on
the ambitious and unique to Michigan whitewater park.
The grand opening is scheduled for the spring of 2011. When completed,
the $2.5 million project will include:
• A  one mile stretch of class II-III (beginner and intermediate) kayaking
• A mile paved bike path that follows the river
• Two miles of hiking trails
• Two new foot bridges across the river
• Covered shelters, restrooms and picnic areas
• Scenic overlooks and benches
• Stair towers and trails providing access to the adjoining
neighborhoods along the river
“I think you will find that this is a hidden jewel that we have here,”
says Al Hansen, Petoskey’s Director of Parks and Recreation. “It is
almost like a little canyon. I think it is going to be a very positive
improvement for the city.”
Improvements on the Bear River had been talked about since the early
‘70s, but the current project began in earnest in 2006.
“It has been a collaborative effort of staff and planners for a long
time,” Hansen says. “We held a number of public meetings and got our
whitewater kayaking community involved and worked toward the process.”
The Bear River Recreation Area starts at Mineral Park on Lake Street.
The park is not exactly closed but Hansen says, “Right now we are not
encouraging a lot of use. We are still under construction and we want
to have the vegetation established before we put a lot of people into
the park.”
The path along the river winds its way under the Mitchell Street-Bear
River bridge. There are a couple of picturesque small waterfall/rapids
sections. This is the part of the river for beginning kayakers.
Further up the river the trail gets steeper and the water gets louder.
Diesel-powered shovels and earth movers are busy putting the final
touches on the landscaping along the river, but their big engines can
barely be heard over the sound of the rushing water.
Rocks were added to the river on this stretch where the water is
running the fastest. This is the part of the river designated as
“intermediate,” but to someone unfamiliar with kayaking it looks to be
more in the “expert” category.
“Actually, we had to make the river a little safer,” Hansen says. “The
way the river was, it would directly flush you to the bottom.  There
were no exit points for three quarters of a mile. So we had to build
pools where people could self-rescue.”
Signs will be installed on US-31 and at the Bayfront Park pointing the
way to the entrances of the whitewater park.
“There will be a review in the spring to make sure everything is
functioning like it is supposed to as it wears itself in over the
winter months,” Hansen says, “but we hope to have it ready in the
spring.”
A unique stretch of whitewater such as this should draw even more
tourist traffic to Petoskey, however Hansen points out: “We try to
design our parks for the locals to enjoy and for the visitors that
come to town as well.”

For more information on the Bear River Whitewater Park, go to
www.petoskey.us or call 231-347-2500.