Watch CBS News

Leases Approved For 'Over the River' Project

SALIDA, Colo. (CBS4) - The artist Christo is a step closer to being allowed to drape huge pieces of fabric over the Arkansas River.

The Colorado State Land Board has okayed the two leases needed for the "Over the River" project.

Christo wants to suspend nearly 6 miles of fabric in eight sections above a 42 mile stretch of the river between Salida and Canon City. It would stay there for two weeks in August 2014.

The leases will raise about $26,000 for schools.

Final approval is needed from the federal Bureau of Land Management. It is expected to review the plan this fall.

Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude came up with the idea for "Over the River" in 1992. His wife died in 2009, four years after the pair's project "The Gates" wowed visitors at New York's Central Park.

The project would cost an estimated $50 million.

Related Video Clip

In 2010 CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody interviewed Christo about his vision for the project. Watch the report in the archive video clip below:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.