BoardSafe Docks Recognized as Platinum Sponsor for SOBA's 2023 Symposium
BoardSafe Docks is thrilled to be among the largest group of professionals actively engaged in improving and expanding public boating access across the United States at the SOBA Annual Education & Training Symposium, happening now in Tacoma, Washington. The symposium attracts nearly 200 state program specialists, boating and marine-related manufacturers, engineers, materials specialty industries, contractors, educators, state and federal agencies, consulting firms, private and nonprofit companies, and other boating organizations.
As a forum for water and boating access resources, the four-day SOBA symposium is the place to be for boating access and outdoor recreation professionals and any organizations wishing to keep abreast of the latest materials, designs, and construction techniques.
This annual event is the largest gathering of professionals and affiliate organization representatives engaged in improving and expanding public boating access. This year’s lineup of dynamic speakers is sharing insights into work happening in motorized boating access and non-motorized inclusive river access throughout the United States. SOBA is an organization devoted to the acquisition, development, and administration of public recreational boating facilities nationwide.
Manlius Recreation Department Installs BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch
The recreation department in the Town of Manlius, New York, recently celebrated the addition of a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Town of Manlius is located in Onondaga County, a southeast suburb of Syracuse, New York. The town was settled in 1794 and includes the villages of Manlius, Fayetteville, and Minoa. During its early years, its economy mainly focused on trade generated by the Erie Canal, which contributed to the early development of the town. Today, the Town of Manlius is the third largest suburb surrounding Syracuse. The town’s recreation department was looking to provide expanded accessibility to canoes and kayaks and provide safer and easier access to its waterway.
The accessible launch system manufactured by BoardSafe Docks includes an adaptive kit equipped with features for paddlers in wheelchairs, and a 24-ft.-long accessible gangway providing accessibility for all while offering differently-abled paddlers the opportunity to paddle the canal with family and friends.
BoardSafe Docks worked with Madison County, the Town of Manlius, and the NYS Parks on the original design and layout to ensure the optimal site was selected to access the lake and ensure accessibility from the parking area. The Town of Manlius highway department installed the foundation and dock system with construction oversight provided by BoardSafe Docks.
The kayak launch was installed in the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park at the Poolsbrook Picnic Area in Kirkville. This park offers pedestrian and biking access along the Canalway Trail and is an excellent location for launching a kayak or canoe.
Inclusive waterways create economic renewal
The economic benefits of inclusive water trails provide communities with opportunities for economic renewal and growth while providing close-to-home recreation. Increased property values, tourism, and recreation-related spending on items such as paddling equipment, kayaks, boats, and bicycles, are just a few ways that inclusive water trails positively affect communities and the local economy. Paddling encourages good stewardship of parks, natural resources, and riverside land. Enjoyment and protection of the great outdoors are valuable investments in communities and their future.
Since no two waterfront projects are exactly alike, BoardSafe Docks works with its customers to design optimum solutions for each launch site and ensure they have the best design for their location. This unique service typically isn’t offered by other dock-building companies who often mass produce the same dock. BoardSafe’s site evaluation services and consultation ensure a structurally-sound and long-lasting design for many years to come.
To view over 20 different possible launch configurations, click here:
BoardSafe Kayak Launch Layout Options.
An accessible and inclusive kayak launch helps paddlers enjoy the lifestyle they’re looking for—safely, easily, and responsibly. Plus, an aluminum dock is easy to install and will look fantastic for many years to come, with minimal maintenance and upkeep.
Read more about the benefits of planning for an inclusive launch system here:
6 Reasons for Designing a Universal Access Kayak Launch.
BoardSafe Docks understands the benefits and impact their floating dock systems offer to communities and park systems. Their inclusive launch is fitted for kayaks, canoes, and SUPS, and gets everyone in the water safely. We know paddlers want close-to-home recreation; safe, easy, and inclusive access to the water; and the ability to connect their families to nature and their local community. BoardSafe’s fishing piers allow their users to enjoy the outdoors safely away from active boat launches and access points.
To discuss your project and create a water entry site that offers safe and easy access with inclusive and adaptive features, contact us at 610-899-0286 or through our website at BoardSafeDocks.com.
Rice Lake WI Makes Strides in Accessibility with BoardSafe Kayak Launch
Equitable access to the outdoors is essential for everyone and offers recreational, economic, and ecological benefits to communities. The small town and lakefront community of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, has made great strides by offering everyone who lives near the lake the opportunity for inclusive recreation on the water.
The lack of access to places of recreation has large repercussions and can leave communities disenfranchised. Access to the outdoors is a basic human right and essential to good health. When communities like Rice Lake work together, they create a sense of belonging for their members, bring communities together, and connect them with nature.
Rice Lake’s Main Street Association initiated a “Rock the Dock” Fundraiser to help raise funds for the accessible kayak launch. The association was overjoyed to learn they were the recipient of a $40,000 Hometown Grant from T-Mobile. “The grant funded the ADA-compliant kayak launch in its entirety,” said a very appreciative Rice Lake Main Street Association Board Member, Chris Olsen. “It’s a huge domino for the development of the lakeshore and makes the lake accessible to everybody. The newly installed BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch and 5-ft. X 8-ft. gangway provide accessibility for everyone on Rice Lake.
Sami Mohr, the store manager at the new T-Mobile location, said the Hometown Grants are a commitment to bring 5G to communities such as Rice Lake. “Over the next five years, T-Mobile is going to be giving away $25 million in grants like this,” she said. T-Mobile is proud to support local communities like the Rice Lake Main Street Association and mentioned, “We wanted to show we are more than just a retail storefront and we want to be a part of the community.”
Rice Lake is an 859-acre lake located in Barron County, Wisconsin. Its visitors have access to the 19-foot-deep lake from several public access boat landings. Fish that are common to the lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. In addition to fishing, the lake now offers a variety of accessible activities, including an accessible launch site for adaptive paddling. The town will also be supplying four kayaks to go along with their new launch, and an additional two kayaks will be uniquely-fitted adaptive kayaks so paddlers with disabilities can paddle the lake with family and friends.
The kayak launch on Lakeshore Drive across from City Hall is officially open after a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Sheriff's Department has provided life jackets for paddlers to borrow, use, and return.
At the ribbon-cutting, Chris Olsen of the Main Street Association said private and public entities and a foundation all worked together on the project. He thanked the city for providing the heavy machinery, and recognized private businesses who helped with construction and landscaping, and all others who volunteered time and manpower. "Anybody and everybody can use the lake now—there's full access to our lake," Chris Olsen said.
Library director Rachel Thomas thanked Mayo Clinic Health System and Rice Lake Celebrity Charity Classic for their financial donations that were used to help purchase the kayaks. The kayaks are available to be checked out at the library, just like checking out a library book. A user’s agreement must be signed and borrowers must be over 18 years of age. The library director did not know of any other libraries that had kayaks available for check-out but said there probably are some, somewhere.
Thanks to the sponsors and volunteers, and all the involved stakeholders, Rice Lake now has an ADA-accessible BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch and a rack of kayaks available for the community to borrow and use to enjoy the paddling on Rice Lake.
The accessible kayak launch offers adaptive features, which means that ANYONE, including folks with physical disabilities, and those who struggle with mobility limitations, can enjoy kayaking with family and friends. The launch features include a ramp, stabilizing kayak chute, overhead grab bar, hand straps, pull bars, and a step-down bench that enhance the paddling experience for all.
The volunteers and sponsors who worked together on this project for the good of the Rice Lake Community are:
- T-Mobile—provided the $40,000 grant towards the purchase of the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch, the inclusive launch system designed and manufactured by BoardSafe.
- Mayo Clinic Health System—donated $3000 towards the purchase of kayaks.
- Rice Lake Celebrity Charity Classic—donated $2000 towards the purchase of kayaks.
- Barron County Sheriff's Department—provided life jackets for kayak users to borrow while paddling.
- City of Rice Lake Community Services Department—provided heavy equipment for installation of the launch.
- Scott Kucko of Hooch’s Hardwood & Masonry—donated excavating, framing, and prep work.
- Jeremy Scheu of Summer All Year—donated time for excavation and prep work.
- Jon Klump and Ryan Ebner of @K&E Construction—Poured and finished the concrete walkway.
- @Northwoods Promotions / Ventures Apparel—purchased all sand and concrete for the project.
- Chris Olsen of Northwoods Promotions & Apparel—volunteered for the installation.
- Chad Peterson of Business & Estate Advisers—volunteered for the installation.
- TJ Olsen—volunteered for installation.
- Creating Ability—outfitted the kayaks for adaptive paddlers. In 2004, Creating Ability designed the Universal Paddling Seat. Since then, Creating Ability has developed and provided fully-outfitted kayaks with adaptations that enable people of all abilities to participate in the sport of adaptive kayaking. They travel tens of thousands of miles annually, volunteering at various events and venues in support of persons with disabilities and their families. Creating Ability provides on-site support, education, and outfitting to enhance the paddling experience and create freedom and independence for the adaptive paddling community.
On Rice Lake Public Library’s website, they share a belief statement that says, “We believe in Community, Access, Service, and the Public Good.” This belief resonates with the whole community and their inclusive efforts to make their community accessible to all. Kudos to the small town and the stakeholders involved in this inclusive project. Everyone is welcome to paddle the lake!
BoardSafe Docks was honored to contribute to this project and understands how projects like these enhance communities and empower adaptive paddlers.
BoardSafe Addresses Growing Need for Non-Motorized Paddle Access
The 2023 SOBA Symposium is less than three weeks away, and the growing need for non-motorized paddle access is on its agenda.
With paddlesports on the rise, recreation stakeholders share responsibility for shaping our country’s water access spaces, ensuring their accessibility, and improving the user experience for all. Tom Warchol, from BoardSafe Docks, will be speaking about adaptive water access products and the value they bring to the communities.
Intentionally investing in adaptive water access products enhances economic growth in terms of jobs and revenue, promotes tourism, supports community equity plans, and improves the quality of life for all paddlers.
When you step into a kayak, push off into a canal or a river, and take those first few paddle strokes, nature surrounds you at every level. It’s easy to understand why people are getting hooked on paddle sports.
Paddling and exploring the water bring people and nature together for a blend of relaxation and fun. There are so many reasons propelling around the water is an attractive diversion from today’s fast-paced world. It brings families and friends together, connects people to nature, and most importantly, it promotes exercise, health, and wellness. Paddling is an activity that almost everyone can participate in—young and old, novice and experienced, and people with mobility limitations.
Kayaking has also become increasingly popular for paddlers with more serious physical disabilities, like amputees and those with paralysis. It offers rehabilitation, exercise, and socialization, and is proven to improve one’s mind, body, and spirit. Most importantly, kayaking gives adaptive paddlers an opportunity to be out on the water like everyone else. They describe the freedom of leaving their wheelchairs and transitioning into a kayak as “liberating.” This only occurs when kayak launches and water access points are designed to provide accessibility to all.
The popularity of paddlesports like kayaking is on the rise
According to a report published by the Statista Research Department, nearly 18.6 million Americans went kayaking at least once in 2021, demonstrating an increase in the popularity of paddlesports. From 2010–2021, kayaking participation in the United States grew by 87.3 percent. Kayaking, canoeing, and all paddlesports are truly inclusive recreational activities when launch sites include adaptive features like an ADA gangway, kayak chute, boarding bench, hand straps, and grab bars.
How do we continue to make kayaking appealing and accessible for older adults, and ensure that those with mobility limitations or physical disabilities are included?
To attract paddlers to return to the water and build legacies for people to use and enjoy for many years to come, designers, architects, and engineers must include features that get paddlers in and out of the water safely and remove barriers to participation.
The most significant difficulty reported by almost all paddlers is getting in and out of their vessels. Upon entry, kayaks and canoes can tip, shift, or roll over. Adaptive features can ensure safe access in and out of the water. It’s encouraging to see leaders and planners striving to create a more inclusive society. They understand the importance of inclusive outdoor recreation. As recreation stakeholders, we all share responsibility for shaping the future of our country’s outdoor spaces and inclusive lifestyle and improving the quality of life for all. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on Disability, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disabilities. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 people.
According to the CDC Disability Impacts All of Us Infographic, 11.1 percent of U.S. adults have a mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
The value of an accessible and adaptive kayak launch
An accessible kayak launch with adaptive features can benefit a significant portion of the population, including people with mobility impairments, older adults, and people with temporary injuries or permanent conditions.
Ask any adaptive kayaker about their feelings of enjoyment, liberation, and empowerment after they complete a paddle. Many will tell you they cannot wait to get back out in the water!
Kayaking promotes healthy living, connects friends and families with each other and with nature, and encourages paddlers to be good stewards in caring for our natural resources.
People attending the 2023 States Organization for Boating Access in Tacoma, Washington, on August 28–31, can expect to learn about planning, permitting, engineering, manufacturing, ecological impact, economic impact, and grant funding for motorized and non-motorized boating access projects like these and others.
Information about the symposium is available here: Welcome to Washington - SOBA 2023.
Register here: SOBA Education & Training Symposium.