The Friends of the River strives to restore the natural channel of the Smoky Hill River to its role as an integral part of the aesthetic, recreational and economic life of Salina. The Friends of the River will endeavor to gain understanding of options for improving the river and dykes, to assess the viability of those options and to collaborate with other partners in developing the river's potential as a resource for our community.

Where we want to be in the future
The Smoky Hill River is a site of community engagement through residential and commercial development, historical understanding, ecological awareness, educational programming, recreational activities and public art.

The Smoky Hill River has long provided sustenance for animals and people. The River offered a natural crossroads as well as water and timber. In 1858, Salina's town founders saw the great advantages furnished by the River.

Power from the flowing river soon ran mills that sawed trees into wood and ground grain into flour. Salina's milling industry was born and steadily grew to the position of third-largest flour-producing city in the world.

The River also became the place to celebrating life. Picnics, horse racing, boat trips and swimming enhanced the quality of life and helped build the young community.

Ironically, the same river that spurred development in Salina also brought devastation. After the river left its banks in the great flood of 1951, it was rerouted, and flow to the channel that runs through the town was cut off. What once was picturesque enough to have the movie "Picnic" filmed on its banks is now a silt-filled ditch.

Like the city founders before them, the Friends of the River and the City of Salina see the Smoky Hill River as a great asset. With its restoration, the River can once again play a vital part in Salina's economic and recreational development.