April 26, 2022

New Launch Site on the Little Ark. Photo by Jon Marr

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From the ARKANSAS RIVER COALITION NEWSLETTER 
             VOLUME 26, ISSUE II March-April 2022

                                                               President’s Message
The Pandemic seems to be in decline at last and ARC is beginning to schedule floats again. The first was a St. Patrick Day float on the Saturday the 19th locally from the new launch site in Woodland Park.

​There are 2 websites which are useful for paddlers:
(https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/current/? type=flow) provides flow rates at various sites along the rivers, and ( brown- bearsw.com/cal/coalition ) which lists the dates that coalition boats will be in use.
 

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                                New (relocated) Launch site 0n the Little Ark
 
​ The new launch site is ready and was used for its first official ARC float on Saturday, March 19th. Several work sessions were needed due to the weather and material delivery scheduling. The site was selected by Vince Marshall, Hoyt Hillman and David McGuire and approved by David McGuire and Larry Hoetmer. Planning was done by Hoyt. The basic ramp incline was established by Bret Russell and crew who removed the excess dirt . Randy Roths arranged for Cornejo to supply two 3 ton loads of crushed rock used as a bed and fill for the pavers which were purchased by ARC from Kansas Building Products. The following people were at the work sessions and supplied the labor to prepare and construct the site: Brian Bohnsack, Dorian Dater, Kevin Endicott, Ryan En- dicott, Andy Hall, J.A. Hall, Kara Hall, Lydia Hall, Hoyt Hillman, Kevin Hol- man, Alex Horton, Erin Horton, Lisa Horton, Roger Horton, Russ Icke, James Judd, John Judd, Cannon Marr, Jon Marr, Vince Marshall, Jamie Mills, Wyatt Mills, Mike Roosevelt and Rebecca Sellers. Thanks to all who helped on this project which should be valuable asset to the Wichita Park System for many decades.

​Kayaking and Canoeing on the Little Arkansas River in Wichita—Historical Landmarks and Other Interesting Sights Along the River..... ​
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The Little Arkansas River originates about 80 miles northwest (around Geneseo, KS). The river’s surface drainage from 7 counties encompasses an area of over 1,400 square miles before it joins the Arkansas River in Wichita. 

0.00 (m = miles) Beginning at the Woodland Park boat ramp.....this new ramp is locat- ed on the very spot where the Arkansas Valley Interurban Electric Railway had a bridge crossing that was used from the mid-1920s until around the year 1941. This electric railway provided passenger and light freight service on a rail line that ran from its station located next to the old Broadview Hotel to terminals in Newton and Hutchinson. 

The North and South Woodland Parks cover an area of around 27 acres of land adja- cent to the river. There is an open shelter and several picnic tables, a basketball/multi- use court, a playground and walking paths. 

Along the east side of the Little Arkansas River bank, an old Army Supply Road once ran from Fort Harker (located near Ellsworth, KS), to Fort Gibson in Oklahoma. The old military trail also provided supplies to Camp Beecher in Wichita. (1867-1870) [0.27 (m) - W. 18th Street N. road bridge] 

0.84(m) North High School was established in 1929. As early as the 1930s, and up to this day, it is still one of the few high schools in the U.S. that teaches canoeing in its Physical Education class. 

0.84 (m) Minisa Park {and Minisa Bridge (0.92m)....built in 1932} Minisa is an Indian word for ‘Red Water at Sunset’. The park has 9+ acres with an enclosed meeting facility, a swimming pool, a basketball /multi-use court, and a playground. 

0.96 (m) - 1.20 (m) Mead Island - created in the 1920s when a new river channel was excavated to reduce flooding over the south bank of the old channel. A 5 acre wildlife park was created between the two channels...named after James R. Mead, a pioneer plainsman, hunter, trader and one on the early Wichita founders. (note: use south channel) {1.22 (m) Bitting Street Bridge} 

1.28(m) An old cement dock still exists on the left bank and was originally built during the WPA days in the 1930s. 

1.40(m) Note the Cypress trees (on the left bank) with their roots or ‘knees’ protruding above the water level along the river bank. Also, from this point onward, note the many homes located along the river. 

1.65(m) Oak Park is located on the left. The park consists of 37+ acres of land and much of it is wooded acres for wildlife habitats....nature trails and a disc golf course. 

{1.95(m) West 11th N. Street Bridge}

1.98(m) The Riverside Castle (formerly called Campbell Castle) - built in the 1880s. 

2.20(m) Oak Park continues, then becomes North Riverside Park and extends along the left bank of the river as it makes a bend back to the east. The North Riverside Park con- sists of 30 acres with a historic Park Villa group meeting facility and the Girl Scout Little House. 

{2.54(m) Nims Street Bridge} 

2.70(m) Durfee’s trading post was once located on the north side of the river (where Back Bay Boulevard begins at the intersection of 9th St.) 

2.70(m) Central Riverside Park, a 58 acre public area is on the south. It was once the site of a quarter mile horse racing (sulky) course and a small city zoo. It currently has the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, a mini-Stonehenge astrological calendar area, and a splash pad, plus walking paths, playground and plenty of picnic tables. 

{2.96(m) W. Murdock St. Bridge} Note the signage above the water on the upstream side of the bridge that reads “Un-Powered Boats Not permitted Beyond This Point”....on the south side of the bridge a sign reads.... “Power Boats Not Permitted Beyond This Point”. Signage was in use during a previous era (1950s & 1960s) when both power boats and non-power boats were popular recreational vessels on this stretch of the river. Yes, the warnings can now be disregarded. 

2.98(m) The Isreal Family Boat House was once located on the east side of the river and just south of the east end of the Murdock Street river bridge. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was a popular place for early Wichitans to swim and paddle canoes on the river. 

3.27(m) Note the private boat harbor and docks located next to Barclay Square Apartments on south side of river. 

{ 3.38(m) Nims Street Bridge} 

3.45(m) South Riverside Park is on the south bank of the river. The park was once the site of a big public swimming pool....now it is the site of the Ralph Wulz Tennis Courts and the Wichita Rowing Club’s boat storage facility and landing docks. In 1868-69, there was a frontier Army camp located on the northwest side of the tennis courts. It was alternately named Camp Butterfield, Davidson, and finally Camp Beecher during its brief life. 

3.53(m) End of paddling tour at one of the landing docks located on the south bank. 

Information researched and provided by Vince Marshall for the Arkansas River Coalition river floats (March, 2022) 

 

                                                         Upcoming Events

Board meeting.   July 11, 6:30 P.M.  Location to be determined.
Floats to be announced.  Watch this website.

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Other News

A new access point has been opened on the Ark River in Hutchinson at W. Fourth Ave. and Mohawk Road.    (Item posted on FaceBook.)