Arkansas River attraction for tubers, rafters, kayakers and more nearly complete in Pueblo

James Bartolo, Pueblo Chieftain
·3 min read
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Waterworks Park, a project of Pueblo Water, is an $11 million renovation designed to improve safety and create a natural water park along the Arkansas River in Pueblo.

The quarter-mile section of the river set to become Waterworks Park is located north of Pueblo City Park, east of Pueblo Boulevard and west of Wildhorse Creek. Construction is scheduled for completion in the fall; once it's complete, the park is expected to be populated by river tubers, rafters, kayakers and even paddleboarders next summer.

Reconstruction of the area's Southside Diversion Dam and Raw Water Intake facility will allow river enthusiasts to safely ride from the Pueblo Dam east of the reservoir to the Grove neighborhood near Runyon Lake. The project also will include a pair of bridges, an "island" beach area, and passageways to allow fish species to migrate and spawn in the area.

Pueblo Waterworks Park, set to be completed this fall, will allow safe travel along the Arkansas River for recreationalists and fish species alike.
Pueblo Waterworks Park, set to be completed this fall, will allow safe travel along the Arkansas River for recreationalists and fish species alike.

"We want people to know that Pueblo Water is excited for this project and we're excited to bring this to the City of Pueblo and the community of Pueblo," Pueblo Water Public Relations Specialist Joe Cervi told the Chieftain. "It's going to be a great attraction for out-of-towners... For those who are river users anyway it's just going to add a whole new dimension to it."

Some excitement has been generated around Waterworks Park for its potential as a surfing area. Endless Waves, an online blog dedicated to river surfing in Colorado, speaks of an emerging "Waterworks Park Wave" that "significantly steps up Pueblo’s surfing game" on its Pueblo page while warning surfers to avoid the area during construction.

Cervi told the Chieftain that Pueblo Water does not discourage anyone from river surfing at Waterworks Park if they are able to once construction is completed. However, he said that the area is not designed to be a "surf park."

Pueblo Waterworks Park is closed between Pueblo Boulevard and Wild Horse Creek just north of City Park as construction continues on the popular Arkansas River whitewater feature.
Pueblo Waterworks Park is closed between Pueblo Boulevard and Wild Horse Creek just north of City Park as construction continues on the popular Arkansas River whitewater feature.

"It's designed to be a lot more user-friendly for everyone instead of a specific group like that," he said. "We all wanted to make the river safer, fully navigable, the fish passage for migration, lots of recreation. There's going to be a lot better river health down there because there was so much overgrowth."

Planning for Waterworks Park began in 2018 and construction began in November 2023. Crews will be continuing construction for the "next month and a half, if not longer" while being "at the mercy of the river," Cervi said.

Duane Nava, president and CEO of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, told the Chieftain that Waterworks Park will be an outdoor recreation amenity that brings an "economic boost" to Pueblo once completed.

"I'm sure everybody can find something to do in this amazing community that we have, but we're seeing a lot of outdoor (recreation) when it comes to Pueblo right now," Nava said. "I think the word is getting out about how great the city is with our bike trails, our river system, our lake and all that we have to offer here."

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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: $11 million Arkansas River park nearing completion in Pueblo