Norris Dam State Park Expands Water Access for All!
Norris Dam State Park is now more accessible than ever with the addition of two new waterfront access points at Norris Lake: a BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch, designed to make paddling possible for people of all abilities, and a BoardSafe Courtesy Boat Dock.
This collaborative project between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Tennessee State Parks also included parking lot and drainage improvements, creating a safer and more welcoming experience for all visitors.
The new adaptive launch allows paddlers, including those who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility, the ability to transfer into their kayak with greater confidence and independence. By separating motorized boat traffic from paddle craft, the new courtesy dock also improves safety and enhances the overall boating experience.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, TVA representative Brian Ross, highlighted how the project expands public access while supporting the shared commitment of TVA and Tennessee State Parks to provide outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities and protect Tennessee’s natural resources for future generations.
Learn more about the project's ribbon-cutting ceremony here: New upgrades finished at Norris Lake access point in Campbell County
BoardSafe Docks is proud to have designed, engineered, and manufactured the accessible infrastructure, continuing our mission to remove barriers and create universal access to water.
For more than 20 years, BoardSafe Docks has partnered with parks, municipalities, and recreation agencies across the country to design and manufacture commercial waterfront infrastructure, including adaptive kayak launches, floating docks, marinas, gangways, fishing piers, rowing centers, and pedestrian bridges.
Ready to make your waterfront accessible for everyone? Give us a call 📞 610-899-0286 or contact us through our website 🌐 BoardSafeDocks.com.
#BoardSafeDocks #AccessYourAdventure #AdaptiveKayakLaunch #Accessibility #UniversalDesign #TennesseeStateParks #TVA #NorrisLake #OutdoorRecreation
BoardSafe Creates Outdoor Classroom at Middle Fork Bottoms State Park
A new destination for outdoor learning, recreation, and community engagement has officially opened on Bulrush Lake at Middle Fork Bottoms State Park, Tennessee’s newest state park. Fishing is also permitted from the floating platform, creating even more opportunities to connect with the water and enjoy the park's natural beauty.
The lake is stocked with fish such as bass, bluegill, and catfish, making fishing a popular activity at this West Tennessee state park. The new park is also a popular spot for birdwatching, hiking, and biking, and is connected by miles of accessible, flat, paved trails. An ADA-compliant trail connects to the Outdoor Floating Classroom that extends out over the water.
This exciting project was made possible through partnerships between Tennessee State Parks, Toyota, NEEF, The Nature Conservancy, and the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy.
More than just a floating deck, this new amenity expands outdoor educational opportunities, encourages environmental stewardship, improves waterfront accessibility, and provides a welcoming gathering place for visitors of all ages and abilities to connect directly to nature. Future enhancements such as bench seating, interpretive signage, and canopy shade are being added to the floating classroom to increase its value to the community as an outdoor learning destination.
Learn more about the new state park here: From the Ground Up - The Tennessee Magazine
BoardSafeDocks of Fleetwood, PA proudly designed and manufactured the floating classroom and fishing pier, accessible by a 30-foot ADA-compliant gangway that provides safe and convenient access to the water for all visitors.
Whether your goal is education, fishing, paddling, or creating inclusive waterfront experiences, BoardSafe Docks specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative waterfront infrastructure that helps communities maximize the value of their natural resources.
To learn more about floating classrooms, accessible fishing piers, adaptive kayak launches, pedestrian bridges, and ADA-accessible gangways, contact us at BoardSafeDocks.com.
#BoardSafeDocks #FloatingClassroom #TennesseeStateParks #OutdoorEducation #AccessibleRecreation #FishingPier #WaterfrontAccess #UniversalAccess #ParkImprovements #AccessYourAdventure
Gifford Pinchot State Park Adds BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch
Gifford Pinchot State Park is expanding inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities with the addition of a new BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch, providing a safe and accessible way for paddlers of all abilities to enjoy the beauty of Pinchot Lake.
Located in northern York County, Pennsylvania, between the communities of Rossville and Lewisberry, Gifford Pinchot State Park encompasses 2,338 acres of rolling woodlands, open fields, and the scenic 340-acre Pinchot Lake. Named in honor of renowned conservationist and former Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot, the park is a popular destination for paddling, fishing, hiking, camping, and wildlife observation.
The new BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch is located within the Conewago Day Use Area (1185 Alpine Road, Wellsville, PA 17365) and offers enhanced accessibility for individuals with disabilities, limited mobility, and anyone seeking a more stable and comfortable way to enter and exit a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard.
Designed to promote independence and inclusion, the launch provides a safer transition from shore to water, allowing more visitors to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of paddlesports. The addition of this accessible amenity reinforces the park's commitment to ensuring outdoor recreation is available to everyone.
Whether visitors are exploring the calm waters of Pinchot Lake, enjoying a family paddling adventure, or discovering the park for the first time, the new launch creates greater opportunities for all individuals to connect with nature and enjoy Pennsylvania's outdoor resources.
To see the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch in action, watch the demonstration video on YouTube here: youtu.be/vUVoc8a7EV8.
BoardSafe Docks is a trusted designer, engineer, and manufacturer of aluminum floating dock systems, adaptive kayak launches, accessible fishing piers, gangways, and waterfront infrastructure. Our team partners with parks, municipalities, nonprofits, and recreation agencies throughout the USA to create durable, innovative solutions that remove barriers and expand access to the water.
To learn more about BoardSafe's accessible waterfront solutions, visit BoardSafeDocks.com or call 610-899-0286.
#BoardSafeDocks #AdaptiveKayakLaunch #AccessibleRecreation #UniversalAccess #Paddlesports #Kayaking #PennsylvaniaStateParks #PinchotLake #OutdoorForAll #AccessYourAdventure
Visit the 2026 ASLA Southeast Regional Conference Today!
The 2026 ASLA Southeast Regional Conference is happening this weekend, May 29th through June 1st, at the Raleigh Convention Center in Downtown Raleigh, NC.
See Tom and Kelly of BoardSafeDocks and HivePaddlesports, and hear how we can design, engineer, and fabricate your waterfront infrastructure and help you #AccessYourAdventure on the water!
#UniversalAccess #AccessibleKayaking #FishingPiers #Gangways #PedestrianBridges #CourtesyBoatDocks
Urbana Improves Access and Strengthens Connections at Keuka Lake Inlet
The completion of the Glenn H. Curtiss Park in the Town of Urbana, Village of Hammondsport, NY, marks far more than the opening of a new recreational space; it represents a major investment in the quality of life, accessibility, and economic vitality.
The new park expands opportunities for outdoor recreation while strengthening connections between existing public parks and waterfront destinations. The project’s goal was to create a more connected, welcoming, and vibrant waterfront for residents and visitors alike. The improvements at the Keuka Lake Inlet include pedestrian walkways, a shared-use path, upgraded boardwalk features, seasonal lighting, landscaping, picnic areas, interpretive signage, and an accessible waterfront that creates a gathering place for walking, biking, paddling, and community engagement along the lakeshore.
One of the project’s most meaningful additions along the water is BoardSafeDock's Accessible Kayak Launch and ADA-compliant Gangway, which helps ensure people of all ages and abilities can safely experience Keuka Lake, while promoting better health, wellness, and social benefits of spending time outdoors. These accessible features reinforce the community’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access to recreation.
The adaptive roll cage includes a 4-tiered boarding bench, overhead grab bar and grab straps, a pull-out seat, a stable and secure kayak saddle and chute, and pull bars for a smooth launch into the water.
The park’s accessible amenities are expected to strengthen tourism and local economic activity and attract visitors to the waterfront.
There’s a special history about the park, which was named in honor of aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss. New York’s Secretary of State, Walter T. Mosley, noted: “This project creates a vibrant and accessible destination for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”
BoardSafe Docks is proud to design, engineer, and manufacture waterfront solutions that give universal, safe access to the water for all paddlers. For more information about an accessible solution for your waterfront, contact BoardSafeDocks.com at 610-899-0286.
At BoardSafeDocks, Safety is our Standard
During #NationalSafeBoatingWeek, true safety means creating a secure environment for boaters, kayakers, and adaptive athletes of all ability levels. At BoardSafeDocks, we focus on safety all year long, ensuring independent, safe, and risk-free water entry for all users.
Did you know that transition zones, getting from the shore to the dock, and into your vessel, are where many boating-related slips and falls occur? BoardSafe’s ADA-compliant, heavy-duty aluminum gangway and anti-slip composite or aluminum decking are engineered to keep you upright and secure before you ever hit the water.
Our BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch offers features like a 1:12 sloped gangway, a tiered step-down boarding bench, and a roll cage with an overhead grab bar, grab straps, and pull bars, which help promote a safe entry for all paddlers.
Our launch cradle helps keep the vessel stable and secure so it doesn’t tip over during the boarding process. The plastic-encapsulated floats under our floating dock provide more stability, allowing users and paddlers in wheelchairs better stabilization during entry.
Traditional, slippery, or steep launches create safety hazards for children, seniors, and those with mobility limitations.
BoardSafe Dock acts as a staging ground for critical safety preparations. Check out our BoardSafe Product Line Options to upgrade your waterfront infrastructure, or contact us at 610-899-0286 to learn more about safe and easy access to the water for all.
This #NationalSafeBoatingWeek, BoardSafe is proud to engineer waterfront solutions that give universal, safe access to the water for every single paddler. 🛶⚓️
#AdaptiveSports #Accessibility #SafeBoating #UniversalAccess #Kayaking #Boating #Fishing
Hudson Crossing Cuts Ribbon at BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch
On April 28, 2026, BoardSafe Docks proudly celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the new BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch at Lock C5 Island in Schuylerville, New York. The event brought together community leaders, outdoor recreation advocates, and accessibility champions to commemorate a significant step forward in inclusive waterfront access along the historic Champlain Canal.
The celebration featured remarks from Hudson Crossing Park Executive Director Kate Morse and representatives from the New York State Canal Corporation, who highlighted the importance of expanding recreational opportunities while preserving the region’s rich canal heritage.
This project marks the first BoardSafe Docks installation on the Champlain Canal, a historically significant waterway connecting Lake Champlain to the Erie Canal and the Hudson River. Managed by the Canal Corporation, the Champlain Canal and other feeder canals, including the Cayuga Canal linking the Finger Lakes region to the Erie Canal and the Oswego Canal connecting Lake Ontario to the Erie Canal, are part of ongoing enhancement efforts through 2028. These waterways continue to play a vital role in New York’s history, tourism, and outdoor recreation economy.
One of the most inspiring moments of the ribbon-cutting came when Jim Nolan, former Town of Greenwich Supervisor and a Hudson Crossing Park committee member living with quadriplegia, demonstrated the adaptive launch's effectiveness by independently accessing the water. His experience powerfully illustrated the mission behind every BoardSafe project: creating safe, inclusive outdoor access for people of all abilities.
The new BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch incorporates several innovative accessibility features designed to support adaptive paddlers and improve independent water access, including:
- A four-step boarding bench that allows users to transition from a wheelchair or standing position into a kayak safely and comfortably.
- An overhead grab bar, grab straps, and pull-out sliding bench that provide additional leverage and stability during boarding.
- An accessible gangway connecting the floating dock system directly to the park’s trail network.
- Adaptive paddling support equipment from Creating Ability, including kayaks equipped with stability outriggers, higher seat backs, and one-hand paddle mounts.
This accessible launch system was connected to an existing dock at the site, with installation completed by Schultz Contracting.
BoardSafe Docks continues to lead the industry in accessible outdoor recreation infrastructure, helping parks, municipalities, and waterfront destinations create meaningful opportunities for everyone to enjoy nature, paddling, fishing, and life on the water.
For more information about improving accessibility at your park, stream, or waterfront, contact BoardSafe Docks at 610-899-0286 to discuss customized solutions for your accessibility challenges.
BoardSafe Celebrates Decision Day with Co-op Student
On Decision Day 2026, BoardSafeDocks proudly celebrates our co-op draftsman, Andrew Gramp, a senior from Boyertown Area School District and Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC), as he takes the next step in his educational journey.
Andrew has chosen to continue his studies at Reading Area Community College while remaining part of the BoardSafeDocks team, an exciting opportunity that allows him to continue building real-world experience in drafting, design, and engineering.
Congratulations, Andrew! We are incredibly proud of your decision to further your education while continuing your career path with BoardSafeDocks. Over the course of your co-op experience, you have grown into a valuable member of our drafting and design team through your dedication, collaboration, creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills.
At BoardSafeDocks, we believe in creating meaningful opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience that connects classroom learning to real-world careers. As an industry leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of accessible waterfront infrastructure, our team develops products that help communities across the country create inclusive access to the outdoors. From accessible fishing piers and adaptive kayak launches to floating boat docks, gangways, pedestrian bridges, and collegiate rowing centers, our products are proudly manufactured in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and installed nationwide, proving outdoor recreation is for everyone!
During his time with BoardSafe, Andrew experienced every phase of project development, from drafting, design, and engineering, to fabrication through installation. These experiences helped reinforce his passion for design and his desire to continue building a career in the growing outdoor recreation industry.
According to the report released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation contributed $1.3 trillion in economic output to the U.S. economy and supported more than 5.2 million jobs in 2024. We are proud that Andrew has discovered a career pathway that connects him to meaningful work that positively impacts parks, waterways, and communities across the country.
BoardSafeDocks values the importance of preparing students for successful futures through hands-on workforce experiences. We are grateful for the strong partnerships between Boyertown Area School District, Berks Career and Technology Center, and Reading Area Community College, and for sending such outstanding students our way!
#CareerEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #OutdoorIndustry #RealWorldExperience #DraftingAndDesign #BoardSafeDocks
Spring is Calling...Call BoardSafeDocks
Spring is calling, and it’s time to get people back outside.
As parks, trails, and greenways come alive with warmer temperatures and longer days, access to the outdoors matters more than ever. That’s where BoardSafe Docks comes in. As an industry leader in accessible outdoor products and services, BoardSafe helps communities remove barriers and open the door to nature for everyone.
From beautifully designed pedestrian bridges, like the one shown here, to accessible kayak launches, fishing piers, and floating boat docks, BoardSafe’s solutions connect people to the outdoors in meaningful ways. Whether it’s crossing a quiet stream, exploring a riverside trail, or simply enjoying a scenic overlook, these structures enable individuals of all abilities to experience the benefits of being outdoors.
This spring, invest in infrastructure that invites everyone in. Partner with BoardSafe Docks and create spaces where communities can gather, explore, and thrive, because the outdoors should be for all!
For more information on our accessible solutions, contact BoardSafeDocks at 610-899-0286.
Hudson Crossing Park Welcomes BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch
Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville, NY, is expanding access to the water with a new BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch, helping ensure that more people of all abilities can enjoy time on the water.
Set along the scenic Hudson River and centered around Champlain Canal Lock 5 Island, Hudson Crossing Park offers a one-of-a-kind blend of recreation and education. Visitors can also explore over two miles of nature trails, relax at picnic areas, fish, birdwatch, or enjoy the children’s play garden, all with beautiful waterfront views.
BoardSafe Docks designed this accessible kayak launch to seamlessly connect to the park’s existing dock, providing a thoughtful and efficient solution that enhances access without disrupting the current setting.
This project was made possible through the power of partnership and community support, including a $24,999 Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a $7,500 Trail Grant from Saratoga County, $15,000 from AARP, and generous contributions from local donors.
Curious paddlers who wish to learn more about the BoardSafe launch and its inclusive features are invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 28th, at 11 AM at Lock C5. All are welcome to attend and celebrate this important step toward greater accessibility and inclusion.
The park is planning several inclusive and guided paddling events in the near future, beginning on Tuesday, May 19th, and monthly thereafter. Paddlers of all abilities are welcome to attend and try the accessible launch, offering a safe, stable entry into the water. Pre-registration is required here: https://www.hudsoncrossingpark.org/on-the-canals-excursions
Interested in improving water access at your site? BoardSafe Docks specializes in creating safe, accessible solutions for boating, fishing, and paddling. Learn more at BoardSafeDocks.com or call 610-899-0286.