It started about 1995 when a small group of friends got together and kicked around different ideas. But it really got legs when the Nevada Commission on Tourism gained interest in 1999.

2) How did your group convince city officials and others to support and create it?

Combine commitment, endurance with a great project, and mix slowly ... It took a while, but as the idea evolved and grew, the responsible agencies and groups became less skeptical and somehow started to believe us. The NCOT’s support for the feasibility study in 1999 and the Truckee River Recreation Plan in 2001 really lent a lot of credibility.

3) After gaining acceptance, how did the park evolve?

The park evolved from a very kayak-centric idea to the whitewater park we have today. A much broader group of the community enjoys the park than was first conceived. From its early conception, it took from 1995 to 2003.

4) How is our whitewater park different from other cities’?

The most common comment we get is “Wow, this is really urban.” A lot of other parks are in smaller communities that are up in the mountains. We truly have a blend of dense urban feel with a mountain river. It is quite unique.

5) How did you feel when you saw the first section completed last year?

Pretty happy that the work and contribution of a very diverse group of individuals could become a reality. Then blown away at the type of reception it received. From kayakers to tubers, I think we all were a bit surprised by the number of people who enjoyed it that first summer.

6) Tell us about future expansion plans for the park.

Wingfield Park was the first of several elements we hope to create along the Truckee River through the Truckee Meadows. The next one slated for development is in the City of Sparks at the existing Rock Park. We should be under construction during the late summer of 2006. However, the future parks will be smaller with less of an engineered feel because they are not in such urban settings as the park at Wingfield.

7) How has the Reno River Festival helped the park?

The City of Reno and the RSCVA have absolutely hit a home run in the organization, marketing, and production of the RRF. It is like no other river festival in the country or the world for that matter. In its second year, it is safe to say that it has become what all other festivals are measured against.

8) Tell us about the Truckee River Trust.

It was grown out of a small group of paddlers that recognized the obvious lack of citizen advocacy that focused on river safety, education, recreation, and access associated with the Truckee River. The TRT hopes to create safety awareness, recreational opportunities, and athletic development for the community at large, while focusing on juniors. Your readers can find out more about TRT at truckeerivertrust.org.

9) What has the whitewater park done for Reno?

I like to think it has given folks in our community a reason to go back downtown and to enjoy the Truckee River in a way that is unique and exciting. We live in a great place and for far too long the Truckee River and downtown Reno did not receive the attention that it deserved.

10) How do you and your family enjoy the whitewater park?

My wife and I have enjoyed kayaking and rivers for years but since we have started our own family we have found it more challenging to find the time to dedicate a whole day to river running. The park makes it convenient to meet friends to kayak or to surf alone for a couple of hours. In the summer, our sons, 3 and 5, are the first ones to put on their life vests and jump into the holes or swim in the pools.