Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tipton, Tennessee, recently installed a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak launch at Kirby Pocket. This new addition improves accessibility for all visitors, especially those with disabilities or limited mobility, allowing everyone to enjoy kayaking on the lake.
For those interested in visiting the park, its GPS Coordinates are: 36.363, – 89.4327, and the Park Office / Visitor Center (731-253-9652) is located at 2595 Hwy 21 E, Tiptonville, TN 38079.
Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is a popular spot for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Their website tells its history, describing how the 15,000-acre lake was created by a series of violent earthquakes between 1811–1812, which caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a short period of time, creating the lake.
The park’s ecosystem is unlike any other place in Tennessee. Reelfoot Lake is a flooded forest. While Majestic Cypress trees rise above the water, below the surface are many submerged Cypress stumps. A variety of aquatic plants and flowers occupy the shoreline and are found along the shallow water. The lake harbors almost every kind of shore and wading bird, as well as golden and American bald eagles.
A BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch added to this location will complement the green space and offer significant benefits by enhancing accessibility and safety for all paddlers, including those with disabilities or in wheelchairs. A BoardSafe system promotes inclusivity, community engagement, and can even boost local economies through increased tourism. Everyone will be afforded the opportunity to connect with nature and the beauty and uniqueness of the park.
The benefits of a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch are known to provide paddlers of all abilities:
Enhanced Accessibility
BoardSafe launches are designed with adaptive features like gangways, chutes, and tiered benches, making it easier for individuals with mobility impairments, including those in wheelchairs, to enter and exit kayaks.
Improved Safety
Features like non-slip surfaces, overhead grab bars, grab straps, pull bars, and stable platforms reduce the risk of falls and accidents, creating a safer environment for all users.
Increased Confidence
The design of the launch system provides a sense of security and stability, holding the kayak steady in the chute, allowing paddlers to focus on enjoying their experience rather than worrying about tipping when getting in and out of the kayak.
Greater Independence
Adaptive features empower individuals with disabilities to participate more fully in kayaking, fostering a sense of independence and freedom.
When learning about the launch, kayaker Sherrye Clark, offered her thanks to those who thought of it and the ones who built it. “You’ve brought potential joy to some people who are otherwise excluded.”
Lori Stephens Skelton remarked, “I just watched the instructional video, that is just too cool!”
Benefits of working with BoardSafe Docks
BoardSafe is the trusted leader in accessible waterfront recreation products and services. We are known for our customer service and the ability to customize waterfront systems to meet the specific needs of a community, and for being able to offer different dock configurations and layouts, gangway lengths, and adaptive features.
The durable aluminum framing and extrusions and composite decking ensure that the launch system is weather-resistant and low-maintenance.
While the cost of an adaptive launch can vary depending on the size of the floating dock, the length of the gangway, its features, and customization, the long-term benefits for the community often outweigh the initial investment.
This project highlights some of the ongoing efforts of Tennessee State Parks to partner with design experts like BoardSafe Docks to enhance accessibility and remove barriers to access across their parks.
Tennessee State Parks are known for their unspoiled beauty, preserved historic sites, and breathtaking scenery for kayaking, fishing, and boating. Finding and eliminating barriers is their goal while creating an outdoors that is for everyone and ensuring that everyone can connect with nature and with the water. BoardSafe Docks is an established, trusted expert who has designed, engineered, manufactured, and installed recreational water access systems throughout the state of Tennessee and across the country.
For more information about this project or others, please contact us through our website at BoardSafeDocks.com or give us a call at 610-899-0826.