Ellen Belcher’s blog at the Dayton Daily News website has a post titled “Is the region ever going to love its river?“
Part of it is reposted below (with some links added by me):
On Monday, April 28, the University of Dayton is sponsoring a River Summit at College Park Center.
On April 22, The New York Times did a big take-out on how Oklahoma City has turned the Oklahoma River — once a “ditch” that had to be mowed — into a destination.
The peg for the story was partly that canoeists and kayakers were in town trying to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.
UD and the Miami Conservancy District have lined up a gaggle of presenters to talk about riverfront development and what it can do for the region — from Sidney to Fairfield. UD, of course, is focused, in part, on this effort because it wants to extend its campus to the river’s edge.
Judging from The Times story, Oklahoma City has done a lot right. Once known for football and rodeo, it’s now a hot spot for water sports.
The like and similars between Dayton and OKC are striking, including how much effort was put into preventing floods — efforts that ultimately drove people away from a natural natural resource.
2 responses so far ↓
F. Berkemeier // April 25, 2008 at 9: 39 pm
Hi Michael,
I just happened across your blog. I really like what I see. Anyway, I’m currently a sophomore at UD and a member of the Rivers Institute there. I was really excited to see your post on the River Summit, because I will be in attendance instead of studying for my finals. If you at all unfamiliar with the Rivers Institute at UD or the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, I’d be more than happy to talk with you.
Keep up the good work.
Michael // April 25, 2008 at 10: 35 pm
Thanks for the comment.
Since you’re involved with the Rivers Institute, you’re the perfect person to answer this question: what’s the schedule for the day? I’d love to explain the UD River Summit more but I’m not sure of the schedule.
Keep reading!
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