Columbus, Indiana eyes developing ski lakes near downtown as sports draw..
Scott Tynan is heading this effort

     Columbus could become a preferred location for water skiers if it builds three water ski lakes near downtown, according to the governing body for U.S. water skiing.   The water ski lakes are part of a downtown redevelopment plan, which also calls for the construction of indoor and outdoor sports complexes.   "Columbus would become a water skier's destination if it were to move forward with this project," said Scott Atkinson, director of communications for USA Water Ski.

    The Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation owns the farmland where the lakes would be created, west of downtown past the bridge and railroad tracks, and north of Indiana 46.  ISMF has granted permission for 600,000 cubic yards of dirt to be removed from the property to build four baseball fields that are part of the outdoor sports complex.

    The ski lakes project probably won't start until fall at the earliest, said Ed Curtin, executive director for Columbus Redevelopment Commission.  The intent is for the lakes to be used for all types of water sports, such as slalom, tricks, jumps, wakeboarding and swimming.