Could Oklahoma City Support the MAPS3 Whitewater Center?

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- One of the projects specified in the MAPS 3 proposal is a whitewater rapids park that is modeled after a facility in North Carolina. However, that facility is currently struggling to stay afloat.

If MAPS 3 passes, it will generate $25 million to build a whitewater rapids facility on the Oklahoma River. The facility would be similar to the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

One of the biggest problems with the Charlotte facility was the cost to build it, which will be different with the MAPS 3 project. However, critics are asking how the city can guarantee people will use the facility.

The Charlotte facility opened three years ago and cost about $38 million to build. When the center opened, revenue didn't come in, loans to pay for the facility have been defaulted on, and taxpayers are now footing the bill.

"Now what we have is a $38 million debt that we have to pay back off of our operating income, and that's a lot of money to pay back," said Jeff Wise, with the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

The Oklahoma City facility would be paid for.

"If Charlotte would not have the debt service, theirs would be break even, and that's what we would anticipate ours would be," said Roy Williams, with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

Visitors have also been a problem for the Charlotte facility. Officials at the facility said visitors are coming, but they're not spending a lot. The center predicts revenue will be down 20 percent this year.

Oklahoma City is also banking on visitor spending to keep the center going once it's built.

Oklahoma City leaders estimate visitors will spend nearly $14 million a year at the facility, and another $8.2 million a year off-site at surrounding businesses.

Read the full report on the Whitewater Parks's economic impact

"We feel very confident that the whitewater center will be one of the more popular elements, and I think it sends a message to the next generation too that we get it, that you got to provide a city with things to do," said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

Also affecting the Charlotte facility is its location. The facility is out in the county and competes with natural whitewater rapids. Oklahoma City's facility will be right downtown.