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Tom Wilson
Contact: Nancy Walther, 678-538-1200 On a hot July 30th, over 625 people of all ages beat the summer heat by leisurely floating along a six mile section of the Chattahoochee River, from Morgan Falls Dam to Powers Island, for the 2011 Chattahoochee River Summer Splash. The annual event was free to the public and was hosted by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism. Participants brought their own boats or rented from local venders. Shuttle service was provided by the National Park Service. Student Conservation Association and Greening Youth interns, as well as numerous park volunteers, assisted in safely launching participants’ rafts, canoes, and kayaks. Patrol boats quietly motored up and down this section of river to ensure safety, and were assisted by experienced park volunteers who provided information and water when needed. At the Powers Island finish, park volunteers and local area Boy Scouts assisted folks in removing their watercraft from the river, and then up the wide access steps. As the event is designed for families, there is something for everyone. After receiving t-shirts upon completion of the float, participants could purchase food, view related exhibits, and listen to live music as a way to wind down and enjoy the day’s festivities. Children enjoyed activities such as face painting and the Bubble Creation station, led by the bubble fairy. Many folks were treated to the vision of ospreys circling overhead, red-tailed hawks calling from the forested ridges, or a large trout leaping from the cool water. While afternoon showers cooled the near record temperatures, spirits could not be dampened as this Fourth Annual Chattahoochee River Summer Splash event brought even more people back to the Chattahoochee River than in previous years. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015