The Cascade Whitewater Park is taking form on a variety of levels. Mick Riffie an active member of the evolving Friends of the Cascade Whitewater Park has outlined the following story regarding plans and ideas surrounding the park. 

• Concept
• Organization
• Community Involvement
• Fundraising

Concept: The features for the Cascade Park will be built in the existing river channel of the North Fork Payette  where it flows past Cascade. There are highway bridges at the north and south ends of town and two and half miles of river in between. Adjacent to the old Boise Cascade Mill site there is a 1400 foot stretch of the channel that has about six feet of drop where the park will be built. Conceptual drawings were done by REP (Recreational Engineering and Planning - designers of the Reno park).  REP provided a conceptual cost estimate of $462,560 for the construction of the whitewater park.

The 'artist renderings' show three drops and a short slalom channel. Bank improvements include boulder placement for bank armoring. Easement arrangements with involved land owners in the vicinity of the old Boise Cascade Mill Site are currently being pursued and it is anticipated that there will be a central parking -- park area adjacent to the whitewater features and a bike path along the two and half miles of river between the bridges. The river will remain a public waterway and free to the public -- just as it is now-- no access fees. 

The funds raised so far have gone primarily to the conceptual planning stage of the project. At this point the river survey is the next step.  This is required before the design and permitting stage can begin. Cost for surveying will run in the neighborhood of $6000-10,000. After that, the preliminary design and permitting process can begin, with a cost of approximately $25,000.