Red River Boathouse

Boathouse status as of 11 November, 2013.

Rendering by JLG Architects of Grand Forks (click to enlarge)

Floor plan (click to enlarge)

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Location

Riverboat Road, downtown Grand Forks, ND (just west of Sorlie Bridge (DeMers Ave))

Documents

Boathouse Info Sheet (PDF)
JLG Boathouse Design (PDF)
City of Grand Forks Staff Report (PDF)
Boathouse Proposal (Jan 08 2013) (PDF)
Greenway Technical Committee notes

Media Coverage

October 01 2013 - Park Board backs river recreation idea (Grand Forks Herald)
September 01 2013 - Grand Forks boathouse expected to open next year (WDAZ)
August 06 2013 - GR8 Outdoors: Paddleboarding (WDAZ)
July 05 2013 - Grand Forks residents want to see more use of Red River (Grand Forks Herald)
July 05 2013 - [Mention by Marilyn Hagerty] (Grand Forks Herald)
July 02 2013 - Grand Forks council OKs Red River boathouse (Grand Forks Herald)
June 27 2013 - Surf's Up in Downtown Grand Forks (Valley News Live)
June 27 2013 - OUR OPINION: New era in Red River recreation may begin (Grand Forks Herald)
June 26 2013 - New riverside attraction a step closer to Grand Forks (WDAZ)
June 25 2013 - Grand Forks council members recommend plan for Red River recreation (Grand Forks Herald)
June 15 2013 - A unique race combines biking, boating, and a scavenger hunt in Grand Forks (WDAY)
December 06 2012 - Local Group Proposes Red River Boathouse (WDAZ)
October 11 2011 - Group Wants Boathouse on Red River For Canoeing, Kayaking (WDAZ)
May 11 2011 - Andy Magness, Grand Forks, column: Boathouse could open Red River to canoeing (Grand Forks Herald)

How to Help

As we move forward with the project launch, we will continue to raise funds to supplement donations from our existing partners (above) and grants. If you are interested in making a monetary or in-kind donation at the partner level, please contact us. If you are interested in donating a smaller amount, you can do so at our donation page. We are working on streamlining the donation process in order to make sure we thank everyone involved!

Once the facility is constructed, we will be able to accept in-kind donations of boats, paddles, PFDs, etc., but please wait to deliver them: Andy's garage can only hold so much!

Genesis

It takes a long time to get something like this done. We're working on it daily and are confident we'll get there eventually - but it does take a massive effort. Interested in why it's taking so long? Want to know what it takes to move something from a 'good idea' to a 'great reality'? Read on!

The truth is that the Red River in the Grand Cities isn't very popular. Even members of our own Board of Directors who grew up in the area remember stories and fables that were told during their childhood that maligned the waterway - tales of olympic swimmers drowning, vortexes that would suck you to your death, and raw sewage. As is the case with most 'urban legends' - these are probably based on something. There have been drownings in the river (and continue to be). There used to be a vortex (the old low-head dam). And the river used to be full of industrial pollution too. Add to this the fact that it floods annually, is the color of clay with little visibility, we have loads of lakes nearby that are readily accessible and 'stigma free' and take away any voices pointing out any of the opportunities it provides and its no wonder that so many seem to thumb their noses at it. Maybe it took some one, or several someone's coming from out of the area to begin to provide that voice.

My own (Andy's) interest in the Red was event driven. Coming to Grand Forks from a couple years in New Zealand I badly missed the green and wild spaces. My solace became the river - from my kayak the urbanity disappeared and my immediate experience was one of wilderness. The river got me through grad school. I was always amazed never to meet anyone else sharing my joy - paddle, current, and cottonwoods. Eventually I found out there were others who enjoyed the river on their own, but they were a rare minority. Many of them are now on the GUP board.

Timeline

July 02 2013 - Approved by Grand Forks City Council!
June 25 2013 - Approved by the Grand Forks Service and Safety Committee
June 05 2013 - $24,000 North Dakota Tourism Expansion Grant awarded to GUP for the project.
September 19 2012 - Public meeting held to discuss progress and options for the future
July 2011 - JLG Architects offer their services
April 2011 - Boathouse plan proposed to the City of Grand Forks