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Roanoke set to have first in-river whitewater park in Virginia

Construction begins in 2025, and is anticipated to be completed by late 2026

(City of Roanoke)

ROANOKE, Va. – The City of Roanoke is set to begin construction on Virginia’s first in-river whitewater park in 2025!

The City of Roanoke has had plans to build a whitewater park by Wasena Park since 2022. Now, the project has gotten $5.6 million in funding, primarily through the American Rescue Plan Act.

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“This project will make sports like kayaking more visible and approachable for residents right in the middle of the city. It’s designed to be inclusive and accessible, offering everyone a chance to engage with the river, whether they’re honing new paddling skills or enjoying a quiet day by the water.”

Katie Slusher, City of Roanoke Park Project Manager.

This has been a highly anticipated addition to our community, and we’ve covered multiple updates on the project prior to this.

Construction is officially set to begin in the spring of 2025, and they anticipate the project to be completed by late 2026. The City also said that two additional in-river features are designed, but they do not yet have adequate funding. The city staff have said they are actively seeking grants to build the additional features.


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Colton joined the WSLS 10 team as a digital content producer in July 2024, soon after graduating cum laude from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in sociology and a minor in psychology.