Who Enjoys Whitewater Parks?
The young and the old, from novices to experts, both world class athletes and the physical disabled... Everyone loves whitewater parks!
Who Can Recreate at the Whitewater Park?
What Recreation Does a Whitewater Park Provide?
Who Can Recreate at the Whitewater Park?
A Whitewater parks are for everyone!.
Seniorslove whitewater parks!
And parents and young adults love whitewater parks!
But no one loves whitewater parks more than kids!
What Recreation Does a Whitewater Park Provide?
The waves and the pools created by the hydrolaterals in a
whitewater park create countless recreation opportunities.
1. Kayaking
Whitewater kayaking is the most difficult of whitewater sports, combining river-reading, paddle control, balance, and rapid decision-making in moving water.
Kayaking is also the most exciting whitewater sport and a whitewater park is the ideal place to learn kayaking. The features in a whitewater park are consistent and easy to access.
Because Costa Rica’s riversnever dry up and never freeze over, paddlers can train year-round.
That constant access to flowing water is a big reason why some of the best kayakers in the world live in Costa Rica.
2. Rafting
Whitewater rafting is widely considered one of the most exciting adventure sports in the world.
Every year, tens of millions of people participate in rafting and commercial whitewater trips globally, making it one of the most popular adventure activities on the planet.
In Costa Rica, tourism is the second-largest economic driver in the country, and whitewater rafting is consistently the most popular adventure tour activity offered to visitors.
A whitewater park is often the most exciting stretch of whitewater on a river.
A whitewater park allows rafters to experience big-water excitement in a safe, repeatable, and spectator-friendly environment.
3. Tubing
Tubing is arguably the most exciting way to go down a river and easily the most inexpensive of all whitewater sports. With minimal equipment and no technical paddling skills required, tubing makes river recreation accessible to everyone—including families and first-time river users.
Tubing is also safe for kids, especially in a properly designed whitewater park. Unlike natural rapids, rocks are not downstream, and calm pools are built on each side of every feature, allowing riders to exit the water easily and safely.
Whitewater parks can actually be more rewarding than natural rivers for tubing because of the size, shape, and consistency of the waves. Riders can experience bigger, smoother waves—again and again—without the unpredictability of wilderness rapids, making tubing both safer and more fun.
4. Duckying
Duckies are inflatable kayaks that can carry one or two paddlers, combining comfort with high-performance river action.
Duckying is easier to learn than hard-shell kayaking, but delivers the same excitement in rapids, waves, and holes.
Because duckies are stable, forgiving, and intuitive, duckying is a great way to introduce young paddlers to the exciting world of whitewater kayaking.
Among all whitewater crafts, duckies are the most comfortable. Duckies are soft boats with inflatable back supports so paddlers can relax and enjoy the fun and flow of the river at ease.
5. Surfing
River surfing takes place on standing waves. Standing waves — unlike waves in the ocean — do not break onto the shore. Unlike waves in the ocean that only last a few seconds or minutes, river waves can last days, months, and even years.
So, while a ride on an ocean wave typically lasts 10 to 30 seconds, a surfer can ride a river wave indefinitely, carving, spinning, and surfing continuously on the same wave.
A whitewater park makes river surfing especially spectator-friendly, allowing people standing on the riverbank or on a hydrolateral to watch surfers from just a few meters away.
In contrast, spectators watching surfers in the ocean are often hundreds of meters away, making river surfing a uniquely up-close, dynamic, and engaging experience for both riders and audiences.
6. Body Boarding
River body boarding is for tubers with advanced advanced river-running skills. It's for tubers who want more performance and control in moving water.
Body boarding provides far more control than tubing, allowing riders to fully use waves rather than simply float through them. Body boarders can surf and carve like surfers and spin on waves like kayakers, blending multiple whitewater disciplines into one.
Even elite surfers and world-class kayakers often love river body boarding just as much as their primary sport because of its variety, creativity, and freedom of movement.
Although river body boarding is considerably easier to master than both kayaking and surfing, it delivers an equally dynamic and rewarding whitewater experience.
7. Stand Up Paddling/Surfing
Stand-up paddling (SUP) and stand-up river surfing require a high level of skill, balance, and coordination. Unlike traditional surfing, SUP riders are not limited to waves alone—SUP paddlers can run rapids, ferry across currents, and navigate moving water while standing upright.
SUP demands the greatest level of physical fitness of any paddle sport, engaging the core, legs, shoulders, and cardiovascular system at all times. Because paddlers remain standing and actively balancing against current and waves, SUP consistently builds strength, endurance, and full-body control more than seated paddle sports.
In a whitewater park, SUP riders can combine rapid running with wave surfing on the same feature, carving turns, holding lines, and surfing standing waves with precision.
This makes stand-up paddling and stand-up surfing a uniquely dynamic, demanding, and visually engaging discipline—both to participate in and to watch—showcasing some of the highest athletic performance on the river.
8. Rescue Training & Swiftwater Practice
Rescue training and swiftwater practice require a high level of technical skill, teamwork, and calm decision-making under pressure. A whitewater park provides controlled, repeatable hydraulic features—currents, eddies, waves, and holes—that allow rescuers to train realistically without relying on unpredictable wilderness conditions.
Swiftwater practice is one of the most valuable safety uses of a whitewater park because responders can drill throw-bag accuracy, swimmer extraction, boat-based assists, and rapid scene assessment in moving water. Crews can rehearse communication, positioning, and timing while instructors observe and correct technique from the bank.
In a whitewater park, training can include live-bait rescue scenarios, controlled “swimmer” runs through features, and structured practice in eddy catching and current crossing—all with easy access points and defined safety zones.
This makes rescue training a uniquely practical, measurable, and community-benefiting program—improving readiness for firefighters, guides, and river teams while building a stronger culture of safety on the river.
Economic Benefits of a Whitewater Park
Whitewater parks in the United States and Europe have demonstrated significant economic benefits for the municipalities that host them. Here are several case studies and key points that illustrate these advantages:
1. Whitewater Park in Salida, Colorado
Since the opening of the whitewater park in Salida, CO in the year 2000, the city has experienced significant growth in housing units and an increase in social capital. The park has become a key recreational hub, boosting tourism and driving economic development in the region. (runofriver.org)
2. Whitewater Park in Durango, Colorado
The whitewater park on the Lower Animas River in Durango contributes approximately $18 million (921,600,000 colones) annually to the local economy. This impact comes from both direct visitor spending and the attraction of events that bring participants and spectators to the area. (hcn.org)
3. Whitewater Park in Golden, Colorado
A study of the Clear Creek Whitewater Park in Golden estimated its annual value, based on boater spending, between $1.4 million and $2 million (716,800,000 and 1,024,000,000 colones). The park has also improved the city's image, attracting outdoor enthusiasts and benefiting local businesses. (garivers.org)
4. Whitewater Park in Fort Collins, Colorado
A 2010 evaluation of a proposed whitewater park in Fort Collins indicated potential economic benefits, including an increase in visits and spending in the local area. The park was projected to attract both residents and tourists, contributing to the city's economy. (watercenter.colostate.edu)
5. U.S. National Whitewater Center
Although it is not located in Colorado, the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves as a relevant example. The center attracts more than 700,000 visitors annually and has an estimated economic impact of $37 million (18,994,000,000 colones) in the region. It employs nearly 500 people during peak season, demonstrating the substantial economic benefits these facilities can offer. (s2odesign.com)
6. Recreational In-Channel Diversions (RICD) in Colorado
Colorado's legal framework for RICDs helps protect investments in whitewater parks by ensuring water rights for recreational use. This legal protection supports the economic benefits associated with these parks, as they keep water in the river channel, are non-consumptive, and help maintain healthy river ecosystems. (eponline.com)
7. Economic Impact of River Recreation in Durango
A 2006 report on the economic impacts of whitewater recreation in Durango highlighted that commercial river use contributed significantly to the local economy, with direct commercial rafting expenditures estimated at more than $5.5 million (2,816,000,000 colones), leading to a total economic impact exceeding $14 million (7,168,000,000 colones). (durangoco.gov)
8. Whitewater Parks as Drought-Resistant Attractions
Whitewater parks have been identified as valuable assets during drought conditions, as they can maintain consistent water flows for recreational use. This reliability makes them attractive destinations even during periods of water scarcity, supporting local economies when other water-based activities may be limited. (hcn.org)
9. Economic Benefits of Conserved Rivers
Studies have shown that conserved rivers with recreational opportunities, such as whitewater parks, provide substantial economic benefits to local communities. These benefits include an increase in tourism, higher property values, and an improved quality of life, all contributing to economic development. (americanwhitewater.org
Social Benefits of a Whitewater Park for Healthy Community Interaction
Key Points for the Development of a Whitewater Park:
1. Economic Growth: Whitewater parks attract tourists, increasing spending at local businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and retail shops.
2. Job Creation: The construction and operation of these parks create employment opportunities both directly within the park and indirectly in the surrounding community.
3. Community Development: These parks serve as recreational hubs, improving residents' quality of life and fostering community engagement.
4. Environmental Benefits: When properly designed, parks can contribute to river conservation efforts, maintaining ecological health while providing recreational opportunities.
5. Year-Round Attraction: With the right design, whitewater parks can offer activities throughout the year, providing continuous economic benefits regardless of the season.
Why the Pejivalle River?
The Pejivalle River is an ideal location for a whitewater park because:
1. The Pejivalle River has no dam, meaning the water is clean.
2. The Pejivalle has a consistent water volume year-round to sustain a whitewater park.
3. The river flows through a community with the necessary amenities and infrastructure to support a thriving tourism industry.
4. The Pejivalle River has a repairable area of appropriate size for a whitewater park.
Compare:
The Salida, Colorado Whitewater Park is 400 meters long.
The Gunnison, Colorado Whitewater Park is 350 meters long.
The Golden, Colorado Whitewater Park is 300 meters long.
The Fort Collins, Colorado Whitewater Park is 200 meters long.
The Pejivalle, Costa Rica Whitewater Park would be 150 meters long.
Why Costa Rica?
There are more than 60 whitewater parks in the United States.
There are zero whitewater parks in Costa Rica because there are zero whitewater parks in Central America.
Unlike the rivers in the United States, Costa Rica’s rivers never dry up and never freeze.
So while whitewater parks in the U.S. generate revenue for municipalities only 6 to 8 months a year, a whitewater park in Costa Rica will attract tourists year-round.