Kayakers and Canoeists Invited to Take on the Clinton River May 31st at Paddlepalooza 2014
Cities Partner for Race and Adventure River Paddle from Auburn Hills to Rochester Hills

 Media contacts: Stephanie Carroll, City of Auburn Hills; 248.364.6802; scarroll@auburnhills.org. Tara Beatty, City of Rochester Hills; 248.841.2545; beattyt@rochesterhills.org

Auburn Hills, MI—May 16, 2013—The City of Auburn Hills, together with neighboring Rochester Hills, is gearing up to present the 6^th Annual Paddlepalooza 2014, a canoe/kayak race and adventure river paddle on the Clinton River.  Participants will begin launching their watercraft at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 31st from the banks of Riverside Park on the corner of Auburn and Squirrel Roads in Downtown Auburn Hills. 

“Paddlepalooza is an exciting event that helps bring awareness to the Clinton River as a beautiful natural resource right in our own backyard,” Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin McDaniel says.  “We want area residents to make the most of the recreational opportunities available on the Clinton River because the river helps add to the wonderful sense of community, connects cities and neighborhoods, and improves our quality of life.”

Rochester Hills is once again pleased to be partnering with Auburn Hills on this action-packed outing. “This event allows participants to see the Clinton River from a different perspective by giving them a unique opportunity to get out and experience all that our community has to offer,” states Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett. “It is great to see Paddlepalooza grow year after year.”

The Mayor’s Cup was added last year as a way for Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills to have some friendly competition.  According to Recreation Director Brian Marzolf, “Both Mayors are confident that the Mayor’s Cup will be secured for their city - it now resides in Rochester Hills following team Rochester Hills’ victory at last year’s event in the two-person canoe race”.  “The Cup” is passed between the two sponsoring cities each year as a fun way to compete against each other for bragging rights.

This year’s event offers three exciting paddling activities to choose from:  

• 8-mile single person kayak race to the River Crest Banquet Hall in Rochester Hills;
• 8-mile two-person canoe race to River Crest Banquet Center;
• 7.5-mile adventure river paddle to the Avon Nature Area, behind the Clinton River Watershed Council’s Office.

Prizes will be awarded for each race class, and each participant will receive lunch following the paddling along with an event t-shirt.  Pre-registration is recommended, and there is a $20 per person entry fee.

Because the river can be considered a difficult Class III rating at certain times of the year, Paddlepalooza is not recommended for the beginner paddler.  Participants must be at least 12 years of age, and paddlers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  Personal flotation devices are required.

For more details about Paddlepalooza’s participant rules, what to wear, canoe and kayak rentals, parking and shuttle service, raffle prizes, and registration and waiver forms, please visit the City of Auburn Hills website at www.auburnhills.org or the City of Rochester Hills website at www.rochesterhills.org.  You may also call the Auburn Hills Parks & Recreation Department at 248-370-9353 for more information.

About Rochester Hills

Established in 1984, the City of Rochester Hills is a prosperous community offering residents and businesses superior services. Voted one of the top places to live by several sources including CNN Money magazine and RelocateAmerica.com, Rochester Hills is committed to sustaining its position among the nation’s preeminent places to live, work and raise a family. Through the city’s focus on health, education and technology, the community continues to attract forward-thinking leaders and businesses.

About Auburn Hills

Auburn Hills is home to more than 21,000 residents and also serves as Michigan’s global business address, with more than 60 international corporations housed here, including Chrysler Group LLC and Borg Warner headquarters. Auburn Hills’ residents enjoy the amenities of city and suburban living with parks, a revitalized downtown district and a welcoming city complex with a library and community center. Additionally, the city has five colleges and universities, the award winning Palace of Auburn Hills entertainment complex and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, one of the state’s largest destination shopping centers, providing a variety of cultural, social and educational opportunities to residents, workers and visitors. Learn more at www.auburnhills.org.