en.Wedoany.com Reported - Calibre Engineering, based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, has been selected as the designer and construction overseer for a whitewater course at Origin Park in Clarksville, Indiana. The whitewater course is part of a $280 million riverfront redevelopment project in southern Indiana, aimed at transforming 430 acres of landfill, scrap yards, and industrial riverfront land along the Ohio River into a linear park.
The park, developed by the nonprofit River Heritage Conservancy, is partially open to the public. CEO Dennis Schnurbusch stated that 80% of the 430 acres have been acquired, and site cleanup is underway. The park is expected to attract visitors from the Louisville metropolitan area, as well as Indiana, Ohio, and other neighboring states.
Named Wildwater at Origin Park, the whitewater feature is planned as the park's main gateway and signature attraction. The whitewater river system spans over 3,300 linear feet, including a 2,000-linear-foot recreational channel, a 1,000-linear-foot competition channel, and a 92-linear-foot surf wave, catering to experiences ranging from beginners to elite athletes. The whitewater system will be built atop two former landfills and equipped with a high-capacity pump system capable of delivering 900 to 1,200 cubic feet per second, powering adjustable whitewater features—including surf waves and training areas—to support year-round operation. Calibre is responsible for all aspects of the whitewater system, covering channel design, hydraulic engineering, structural systems, and physical modeling, as well as civil engineering and integration with the park's infrastructure.
Scott Shipley, manager of Calibre's whitewater division, noted that the project is designed from a user perspective to create an experience akin to real rapids. The park's final plans include over 22 miles of trails, boat launch points, and amenities such as zip lines, hiking paths, climbing walls, rope courses, picnic areas, boardwalks, and retail spaces.
A $20 million, 14,000-square-foot event center with a capacity of 360 people was completed in May, built by Dean Builds, which has offices in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky. Remaining work includes restoring 1.5 miles of stream trails, removing utility poles, and constructing a canyon bridge. Project team members also include Perkins & Will (architect), Construct Solutions (owner's representative), Cloward H2O (water treatment), WSP (structural and MEP engineering), ERI (feature design), JTL (surveyor), and SME (geotechnical and environmental services).
Schnurbusch stated that the park's planning has been underway for a decade, and the whitewater project is currently in the design phase, with a construction date yet to be determined. He hopes to open it by 2029 and envisions the site hosting Olympic slalom trials in the future.
