Politics & Government

Group Wants to Bring Whitewater Kayaking to Easton

Course would run along the Lehigh River. City wants to know: who's paying?

When you think of Easton's rivers, you might think of for shad, or tubing down the Delaware.

But whitewater kayaking?

A group of that sport's enthusiasts say they want to put a whitewater course along the Lehigh River, near the river's intersection with the Delaware. They brought their idea to Wednesday night.

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The group -- Lehigh Valley Whitewater -- says part of the job is already being done for them. With the state removing a section of the dam at the river, it will be easier to go whitewater rafting.

An informal sketch shown to council depicts a rock wall dividing part of the river, creating a kayaking course.

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Whitewater enthusiasts have tried to bring the sport to Easton before, without much success.

This time out city officials seemed supportive of the idea. Mayor Sal Panto said Easton's plan for its riverfront development eventually calls for some sort of whitewater kayaking. But council members asked the group over and over, How does this get paid for?

"Tell us how we can fund it and we're in," Councilman Mike Fleck said.

The group is trying to raise funds for the project, which could cost more than $3 million, according to one estimate.

Rafters Edward Dery and Chris Merritt said that having a course in Easton could bring money into the community; they pointed to the borough of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, which has benefitted from nearby whitewater kayaking. 

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