BoardSafe Is a Member of PA COSTARS' Purchasing Program
BoardSafe is a participant in the Pennsylvania COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing Program. COSTARS is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's cooperative purchasing program that serves as a conduit through which registered and eligible local public procurement units and state-affiliated entities are able to leverage contracts established to cost-effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business. This streamlines the purchasing process for both sides.
The COSTARS Program's goal is to provide members with contracts that are competitively priced while delivering increased opportunities for our supplier and member partners.
Membership in COSTAR facilitates the purchase of supplies, services, and construction by entities that spend public funds, such as a council of governments or an area government, or an organization that receives public grant funds.
COSTARS suppliers, such as BoardSafe, must demonstrate high standards of responsibility and responsiveness. Many purchasers use a shortlist of preferred suppliers that they know they can depend on to deliver the goods in a timely manner and at competitive prices. Amazing customer service plus competitive pricing will go a long way to winning a member’s project!
Government agencies large and small, up and down the East Coast, have found BoardSafe to be a reliable supplier of the finest aluminum floating docks, gangways, adaptive kayak launches, and other marine recreation products. We have lived up to their COSTARS standards and reputation.
Other clients, from private citizens to boating and kayak clubs to public schools and universities, have relied on the trusted BoardSafe name.
For more information, contact us at 610-899-0286 or continue to browse our website, especially our Projects page.
Environmental Benefits of BoardSafe Floating Docks
BoardSafe strives to be environment-friendly in all our operations. Our materials are selected for their durability and sustainability. We design systems that do not hinder the surrounding ecosystem of plant and animal life. Our quick and quality installation process reduces the on-site presence of heavy equipment, and we do it right the first time so we don't have to return.
Property owners, whether governments, clubs, schools, individuals, or others who are contemplating installing or replacing docks, need to be aware of the sustainability of the components and their impact on the marine ecosystem. BoardSafe takes all of that into consideration, from the design phase through the procurement of materials to the final installation.
BoardSafe's made-in-the-USA floating docks are constructed from the highest-grade aluminum, so there is no concern about deterioration, as there can be with wooden docks. They are low-maintenance, meaning an occasional power wash will keep them looking great, with a minimal need for solvents and other chemicals that can pollute the water. Environment-friendly cleaning products are available to remove stains.
BoardSafe prebuilds as many components as possible to minimize our time at the installation site. We make sure everything is complete before we leave the site, so we don't have to return. This means less trampling of the ground and vegetation.
Aluminum floating docks are more easily moved and replaced than fixed docks, should the need arise.
Read more about our consultation process here.
Adaptive Kayak Launch Brings Joy to Team River Runner
Following is a testimonial to the quality and superiority of the BoardSafe adaptive kayak launch that provides access for the disabled.
As a physical therapist, we routinely ask our clients what their goals are. People who experience devastating loss such as amputation or paralysis can crave to turn back time and be able to resume doing the things they love.
Our society remains full of barriers but as it becomes more apparent that 1 out of 4 persons has some form of disability, the world is slowly becoming more accessible. There is a difference between merely meeting minimum ADA compliance and meeting quality standards that are truly handi-capable. This is true with homes and businesses, restaurants, and gymnasiums, but also the great outdoors.
As I love to kayak, I can tell you there is a tremendous difference in trying to enter a kayak from the water/shore than when using an accessible kayak launch. And not all kayak launches are created equal. Beware of launches made of plastic or are not flush and graded per ADA guidelines. I have been on a few of those launches and even for an able-bodied person, it can be difficult to maneuver and inaccessible to some.
The BoardSafe accessible kayak launch in my opinion is the highest quality system I have ever seen. It is structurally strong, well thought out, and gets people with disabilities back in the water. As a member of Team River Runner, a volunteer group that gets butts into boats, we take great pride in helping people realize that they can do things such as this that they never thought they would do again. Boardsafe kayak launches provide the best tool to allow a greater population to safely experience the water, with or without help.
At Lake Nockamixon, I volunteered with a group of assisted kayakers before there was a Boardsafe launch and then again after the launch was installed. The time, manpower, and safety in getting a group into the water were unquestionably and remarkably improved. To see the joy of the group and volunteers spending time together on the water is priceless! I give BoardSafe a five-star rating and commend their efforts to promote accessibility!
Best Regards,
JoAnn Sienkiewicz
Physical Therapist
Custom BoardSafe Aluminum Floating Dock, Boat Rack, and Launches
BoardSafe recently engineered, manufactured, and installed, a custom aluminum floating dock and gangway for a private lake. The BoardSafe custom aluminum floating dock is equipped with two kayak launches. The installation also includes an attached boat rack that cantilevers out over the water, freeing up valuable deck space.
Watch this video testimonial and bird's-eye perspective of this custom BoardSafe installation:
BoardSafe Kayak Launch Survives Hurricane Sally
Recently, BoardSafe installed one of our adaptive kayak launches in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. The project was completed 6 days before the area took a direct hit from Hurricane Sally. During the storm, they were hit with a 6-foot storm surge. After watching the news, there seemed to be little hope the dock survived, but the project contact told us, “The dock system didn’t move an inch.” This was great news for the community — one less thing they needed to worry about after the storm — and a testimony to BoardSafe's engineering and construction quality.
Grants Make Outdoor Recreation More Accessible
Adaptive and wheelchair sports have been growing dramatically over the last few years, especially with the influx of an estimated 10,000 veterans and active service members now participating in adaptive sports. The interest in the Paralympic Games has also led to sports fitness facilities built especially for wheelchair and adaptive athletes. Many state and local governments and park services are revisiting their recreational facilities and offering funding, grants, and other incentives, to plan, develop, and implement programs to open access to handicapped individuals who want to enjoy the same sports and recreational opportunities as others.
One example is the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working on a multimillion-dollar recreation plan to help cities improve their outdoor all-accessible facilities for adaptive athletes. You can read about it here.
PDCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn says, "They're cooped up at home. Perhaps they're doing their learning from home. Perhaps they're working from home. People are confined in tight spaces," Dunn said. "One thing that was deemed essential from the beginning was time outdoors."
BoardSafe is grateful to be a part of so many plans to help our handicapped citizens enjoy a fuller life.
Jacksonville, Florida, Receives Another Adaptive Kayak Launch
Another of BoardSafe's Made-in-America adaptive kayak launches has brought pleasure and renewed enthusiasm to watersport lovers in Jacksonville, Florida's, Bethesda Park. Share the excitement with this video:
BoardSafe Docks Featured in Michigan Symposium
BoardSafe Docks was on display at the Quiet Adventures Symposium, held in the Michigan State University Pavilion in East Lansing, Michigan. Part of the mission of the Quiet Water Society is to educate the public and encourage participation in non-motorized outdoor recreation.
Stephen J Fleming was on hand to talk about our Adaptive Kayak Launch and Dock Systems. We are looking forward to installing our systems throughout Michigan. Let us know if your community would be interested in a FREE site evaluation.
Applications Open for Community Organizations to Apply for Millions in Adaptive Sports Grants
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is accepting applications through March 17, 2020, for up to $15 million in grants for civic groups providing adaptive sports and therapeutic recreational opportunities to Veterans and members of the armed forces with disabilities.
BoardSafe has the experience, trust, and expertise to design, deliver, and install ADA-compliant adaptive water products for every need. Click here to read about our exclusive features.
Application instructions and eligibility information for these grants — that will help qualified organizations plan, develop, manage, and implement these programs — are available at VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program.
“Built on VA clinical expertise and operations, with essential support from community partners, the adaptive sports grant program allows VA to extend its level of care beyond the clinical setting,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “We are pleased to offer grant funds to community organizations as it means there will be more Veterans engaging in the challenge of sports and more Veterans who are exposed to new skills for healthier living.”
In 2019, the VA awarded $14.9 million in adaptive sports grants to 126 organizations, estimated to serve more than 11,000 veterans and service members from every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Of the total awarded, $1.5 million is being used to assist organizations that offer equine-assisted therapy to support mental health.
All applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by 8 p.m. EST, March 17, 2020. The VA will announce awards based on a competitive selection in fall 2020.
BoardSafe Manages All Shipping Details
As you can imagine, shipping tons of materials to any site, near or far, can be complicated. With BoardSafe, clients don't need to worry — we take care of all the shipping details.
Just one example is our large rowing center project in Austin, Texas. The main dock will be 15,000 square feet and will house two 3,000-square-foot boathouses. These boathouses will store rowing equipment and gear right on the dock. A total of 5 trucks will carry the materials from our manufacturing center to the site in Austin, Texas.