About 200 boaters, and supporters on land, showed up for the Rally for River Recreation at Quinn's Pond in Boise Thursday night to launch a fund-raising effort to transform a quarter-mile of the Boise River into a multi-use river park.

If anyone thought the campaign for the whitewater park was dead, they were wrong. The group heard about positive fund-raising efforts to get construction started on the park by the fall.

Just over the bank and Greenbelt from the pond and boaters, the river was flowing along the site of a former cement plant with its banks littered with broken concrete and wire mesh. It's where the river's debris actually forms play waves that attract local kayakers.

Nearby ponds, including Quinn's Pond, are destinations for anglers, paddlers and swimmers. An adjacent stretch of the Boise Greenbelt provides places to enjoy the river and also to commute into town. All this will improve greatly.

The Campaign for River Recreation proposes to revitalize and improve this quarter-mile stretch of the Boise River and the adjacent property. The result will be a safe multiple-use river park in the heart of the city, providing public access to the water, improving and expanding existing riparian habitat and helping the economy.

The Boise Friends of the Park board has launched a campaign to build the park and to date, they have pledged more than $250,000 toward an estimated $6.7 million goal. The City of Boise has committed $750,000 to the project, and in the spring of 2008, the Harvey Neef family pledged $1 million toward the park, in memory of their son, Ray Neef, MD.

In February 2009, the City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Friends of the Park Board reached an historic agreement with the Thurman Mill Canal District to rebuild the diversion that forms the 36th street wave. The Thurman Mill Canal District is one of several entities with historic water rights along that section of the Boise River. Talk about cooperation.

Rick Ferguson, Friends of the Parks, a volunteer fundraising organization, Boise Mayor David Bieter, Garden City Mayor John Evans and Scott Simplot told the crowd Thursday night that the park is much needed as a place for people, especially for youth, to enjoy the river. It is just as important for youth as the city's downtown skateboard park and Bogus Basin for skiing and snowboarding. The Neef family stressed the importance of having a safe place for youth to learn kayaking. The improved river section will also make it safer for those who just want to float the river in this area.

Boaters Thursday night showed up in touring kayaks, canoes, rafts and squirt boats to show support as local blue grass band, "Shakin' not Stirred," played tunes and the aroma of barbecued chicken floated in the air. Some just swam in the pond. Dogs swam by too. There were a lot more spectators on land listening to speakers offering information about the park and watching the antics of paddlers.

Representatives of Red Bull showed up and kayakers in squirt boats flocked to them to get that jolt of energy.

One of the highlights of the fund-raising party were the conceptual drawings of the first feature planned for the 1,900 linear feet of whitewater at the Ray Neef, MD, River Recreation Park were on display. This structure will replace the Thurman Mill Diversion, which creates the 36th Street Wave, with an adjustable wall. The footings will serve a dual purpose of securing the shoreline for the structure and proving spectator seating. The whole thing is really impressive.

The progress in planning for the park was surprising. The park will be located on the Boise River between Main Street and Veterans Memorial Park. The project will be constructed in a section of river that was channelized during the mid-1900s. Features will include river drops, chutes and boulders for kayakers and canoeists to play in.

Kayakers were toasting Red Bull to the new whitewater park and hopefully the whitewater park fundraising will get a jolt.

For more information on the park see www.boiseriverpark.com.