Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Kayaking in the LA River
()
Hell, this may be illegal, but if the LA River plan is going to crawl upstream at a snail's pace, screw it -- the time to play is now! Not when we're 75 years of age.
We caught this father/son urban adventure duo in Sherman Oaks paddling downstream towards Studio City. "Is this a tradition?" we screamed down. "Nope, it's our first time," the dad yelled back. We asked how he came up with this idea and he said he found it online.
At first search, the only Los Angeles urban adventure we could find was the Guardian Unlimited's escape guide to 20 urban adventures around the world. The only LA entry included hiking Topanga State Park while Manhattan grabbed the kayaking one.
Support for LAist comes from
The father had also clued us in by the entrance. "There's an access ramp by Castle Park." We added a few keywords into Google and voila!
The best place to put a kayak into the Los Angeles River in Sherman Oaks, California, is near the Castle batting cages, which are nestled between a miniature golf course, Interstates 101 and 405, and the four-lane hiss of Sepulveda Boulevard... on a scorching afternoon last July, I slipped unseen through a hole in a rusty fence at the edge of the parking lot, down a sloping concrete bank -- away from the cops, who could give me a $500 ticket just for being in the riverbed. ["The Same River Twice" by Bill Donahue in Mother Jones]
In 2003, The New York Times also wrote an article about kayaking in the LA River, but it got more press over a Jayson Blair-esque plagiaristic lack of citation from the book, The Los Angeles River: Its Life, Death, and Possible Rebirth by Blake Gumprecht (Interestingly enough, Slate ran a story about the NYT mishap with the same exact title as the above quoted text from Mother Jones).
Tour guide to journies, Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) board member Denis Schure has been known to legally get access for press tours: "The entire Los Angeles River is one giant no-trespassing zone according to both the city and the Army Corps of Engineers, the government agency currently charged with guarding the river's 22-mile channel. In an effort to play pioneer Schure has spent the last decade getting friendly with the various permitting agencies and avoiding run-ins with the law" ("Toxic Adventures" by Sam Williams).
Law or not, the father and son were enjoying their time together in what amounted to an isolated wilderness trip through America's 2nd biggest city. We asked the son how the water was to which he replied, "it's hot!" as we snapped a photo. They paddled carefree through the river like it was something every one does in this city. But only if that were close to the truth.
Until FoLAR and others gain their dream of legal kayaking and riverside bike riding, until the City and other government agencies find the funding and will power, and until the people of Los Angeles truly mobilize and speak up about their need for their river... Fathers and sons will continue to go under the radar on quiet Sunday afternoons. And as it should be.
More pictures after the jump.
Support for LAist comes from
()
()
()
()
()
Previously on LAist:
- It's The Valley's Newer Shortcut
- Hey Universal City! What about the LA River Trail?
- Late Night Thoughts: LA River Bike Path
- LAist Recommends: LA River Tours with FOLAR
- LA River Plan held up because of Steven Spielberg?
Photos by Zach Behrens/LAist.com
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist