Ribbon cutting for new childrens' climbing facility. From left are Mayor Andy Berke, County Commissioner Joe Graham, John O'Brien of High Point Climbing, Dawson Wheeler of Rock Creek, John Wiygul of High Point Climbing, Kim White of the River City Company, County Mayor Jim Coppinger, City Council Chairman Yusuf Hakeem and City Councilman Chris Anderson.
Illustrating what new facility will look like
Plans for new kids climbing area
Outdoor climbing area downtown
Reaching the top
High Point Climbing, which just opened a $4.5 million climbing center downtown, is adding a new childrens' area.
John Wiygul, one of the owners, said it will be next to the current facility, but will have an entrance at Third and Chestnut streets.
The announcement was made outside of the facility before a large crowd at a section of closed-off Broad Street. The climbing facility shares space with a new Rock Creek outlet at the former Bijou Theater. A Chattz Coffee is also at the site.
Mr. Wiygul said the new "Funtopia" center will include special climbing walls for kids.
The current climbing facility already has 670 members and gets a lot of walk-in traffic from visitors, it was stated.
While the press conference was underway, climbers were scaling the outside of the facility. A section of Broad Street includes outside climbing walls.