Ames, Iowa, Increases Accessible Amenities at Ada Hayden Heritage Park with a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch
The Ada Hayden Heritage Park, located at 5205 Grand Avenue in Ames, Iowa, just announced the addition of another accessible amenity to its beautiful park. The mayor, city council, Parks and Recreation Commission, and city staff, are pleased with the addition of a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch. This additional amenity adds to the endless recreational opportunities already available at the Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Additional park amenities can be found in the link below:
Ada Hayden Heritage Park | Search All Parks & Facilities | City of Ames, IA
The lake already has a reputation as "a great place in Ames for Kayaks,” and now with their newly-installed adaptive kayak launch, it will be even better. The launch provides adaptive paddlers, including those in wheelchairs or experiencing mobility issues, a safer and easier transition into their canoe or kayak because of the stability and adaptive features it offers to all paddlers.
The city has been planning for the launch since last year, and has done an amazing job seeking and gaining the community’s support for the park's additional accessible amenity.
The adaptive kayak launch project was funded by the city’s Capital Improvement Plan funds, and over $36,000 in grants and fundraising donations through Access Ada Hayden.
A significant portion of the funds for the kayak and canoe launch was donated directly by Ames athletes and local sponsors. They were happy to contribute to a project that would improve access for everyone and improve the Ada Hayden Heritage Park.
Access Ada Hayden was a joint effort among the Skunk River Paddlers, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and JAX Outdoor Gear. The money they were able to raise through fundraisers and donations is evidence of the support the city of Ames has from their community. “We started looking at the accessible dock and launch systems early in 2019 to make the lake accessible to all,” said Rick Dietz, a member of the Skunk River Paddlers and primary contact for Access Ada Hayden.
JRM Construction, of Ames, Iowa, was selected to complete the site and concrete work and began excavating around the second week of August 2022. Once the site work was completed, the city’s maintenance staff was able to accept the launch from BoardSafe Docks, who designed, engineered, and manufactured the custom-designed launch. City staff from the Public Works Department received instructions on the easy assembly and installation of the floating launch system.
Joshua Thompson, Ames Parks and Facilities Superintendent, was present for the installation and described the accessible kayak launch as “very easy and straightforward to install.” He said the launch was incredible and well made and offered compliments to BoardSafe Docks for the quality of the kayak launch.
The Board Safe Adaptive Kayak Launch features an aluminum floating dock, an ADA-compliant gangway, and an adaptive kit with specific adaptive features that allow paddlers in wheelchairs the opportunity to enter their kayak safely and easily. The kayak launch cradle stabilizes the canoe or kayak as one enters, and the step-down bench, overhead grab bar, optional grab straps, and grab rails accommodate people with a wide range of physical limitations. Here is an informative video of an adaptive paddler using the launch independently.
“One of our goals in improving our recreational amenities is to ensure all residents can enjoy being outdoors,” said Ames Parks and Recreation Director, Keith Abraham. “We continue to seek ways to expand parks, facilities, and programs to be inclusive, and we encourage everyone to explore our offerings and share ideas with us for new options.”
Watch a demonstration of Ada Hayden’s new launch:
The Ames Parks and Recreation Department manages 38 parks and offers approximately 180 athletic, aquatic, instructional, and wellness programs to residents of the Ames community. Indoor programs are provided year-round at the Community Center and Ames/ISU Ice Arena.
For more information, visit the Ames Parks and Recreation homepage at amesparkrec.org.
The City of Ames has won numerous awards over the years for being a progressive and innovative city. These awards highlight the wonderful aspects of Ames that residents have enjoyed for years. They are known for a stable economy, friendly people, beautiful parks, great shopping, quality schools, growing cultural and entertainment venues, comprehensive healthcare, and acres of recreational opportunities that are available during every season. Throughout Ames, there is evidence of growth, commitment to the environment, and quality of life. Ames is located centrally and conveniently in the heart of Iowa and the Midwest. Iowa State University is located in Ames.
Ames has the feel of a small town but the heart of a big city. Their population is a little more than 65,000. It offers cultural, recreational, educational, business, and entertainment amenities more common in bigger cities. As a growing city, Ames continues to focus on building a strong community filled with opportunities for all. The slogan they’ve become known for is Ames, Iowa, the Smart Choice!
Since 2020, Ames has received many awards and recognition for its progressiveness and improvements:
- #1 River Town of the Year (Iowa Rivers Revival, 2021)
- #1 in the 10 Best States to Retire in 2021 (MoneyRates, 2021)
- #2 - "State Parks That Rival National Parks" (Livability, 2021)
- #5 - "Best Iowa High Schools" (U.S. News & World Report, 2021)
- #21 Most Livable College Towns (SmartAsset, 2021)
- #22 - "Top Cities for Shorter, Better-Paid Hours" (RewardExpert, 2021)
- #37 - "Best Small Cities for Small Businesses" (Go.Verizon, 2021)
- #1 - "10 Best States to Retire in 2021" (MoneyRates, 2021)
Ames Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new accessible kayak/canoe launch recently installed at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the north side of the lake at 5205 Grand Ave.
The Parks and Recreation Department is hoping the community stakeholders who offered financial support for the launch will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and find the adaptive features a welcome amenity for entering and exiting kayaks. For those using the launch, please post more pictures to the Access Ada Hayden Facebook page, and share with others how these features help enhance the user’s kayaking experience and so spread the word about the adaptive launch.
Click here to read about other BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launches:
- Lake Loramie State Park, OH, Installs Accessible Kayak Boat Launch - BoardSafe Docks
- Minsi Lake Wilderness Area, PA, Proud of Their New ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch - BoardSafe Docks
- Mandarin Park Adaptive Kayak Launch
Communities who are looking to increase accessibility for all paddlers and are considering adding an adaptive kayak and canoe launch to their local lake or stream should click here for more information:
Since every site location and application is just a little bit different, BoardSafe Docks has become the industry expert in location selection, site work, design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of floating docks, piers, and adaptive kayak and canoe launches.
To discuss your project and learn more about BoardSafe Docks, our specific adaptive features that work for the widest range of users, our durable and long-lasting construction, and long-term maintenance suggestions, please call us at 610-899-0286 or contact us at BoardSafeDocks.com.
MetroParks of Butler County, OH, Opens ADA-Compliant Kayak Launch
MetroParks of Butler County, Ohio, and BoardSafe Docks, completed construction of an ADA-compliant adaptive kayak launch at the VOA Lake at Voice of America MetroPark, which is now open for public use. In 2020, MetroParks was awarded a $75,000 Paddling Enhancement Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to build the adaptive kayak launch on the lake, located on the north side of the MetroPark.
$500,000 in ODNR Paddling Enhancement Grant funding was available statewide, and MetroParks was one of the few organizations that qualified for funding in 2020. The grant program identified meeting the needs of people with disabilities as a priority in determining which projects to fund.
VOA’s new kayak launch uses a series of ramps, handrails, and platforms to assist those with varying mobility needs to launch canoes, kayaks, and other hand-powered watercraft into the VOA Lake. A gently-sloped ramp provides a sturdy avenue for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices to access the floating dock. Once on the dock, individuals can place their boat in an underwater saddle that securely holds the watercraft in place while the boater uses an overhead support to lower themselves safely into their boat.
The project included the following items:
- 5’ x 24’ Gangway
- Two (2) 6’ x 20’ floating docks
- One (1) Clip-A-Launch 16D
- Adaptive Boarding Kit
- Bench with pull-out seat
- Overhead Grab Bar with straps
- Instructional sign
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For more information about BoardSafe Docks' adaptive products and installations, click here.
Cleveland Metroparks Adds Kayak Launch and Gangway
Established in 1917, Cleveland Metroparks spans more than 24,000 acres across Northeast Ohio including 18 reservations, more than 300 miles of trails, eight golf courses, eight lakefront parks, dining and retail venues, and nationally-acclaimed Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The Park District offers thousands of education and recreation programs and events each year across the 49 communities it serves, helping to create connections to nature and promote conservation and sustainability. Cleveland Metroparks is the recipient of the 2021 National Gold Medal “Best in Nation” Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management.
Cleveland Metroparks has been operating the East 55th Street Marina since 2013. Conveniently located off of I-90 on the shores of Lake Erie at a 1,200-foot fishing platform and one exit away from the popular E 72nd Fishing Area and Gordon Public Boat Ramps, they have everything you need for a successful day on the lake! Stop in by car or boat for bait, tackle, coffee, snacks, and beer to go. Full-service ship store covering all of your boating needs.
Visit their site at clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/visit/parks/lakefront-reservation/east-55th-street-marina.
BoardSafe Docks has recently engineered, built, and installed our unique ADA-inspired adaptive kayak launch to make boating accessible to adaptive paddlers. We also installed a 50-foot, heavy-duty aluminum gangway to provide access to the launch.
Click here to read more about BoardSafe's accessible kayak launch.
Click here to read more about BoardSafe's aluminum gangway.
Durable Floating Docks and Launches Endure Frozen Lakes, Ice, and Winter Elements
People who enjoy water sports are often subject to climates and locations that experience winter conditions.
For example, people in New England and the Midwest face extremes of heatwaves and frigid blizzards. Many of our clients in these areas are concerned about protecting their floating docks, fishing piers, gangways, and adaptive accessible kayak launches. Parks and outdoor spaces must winterize their areas by putting items into storage, placing covers on items, and spending time to protect objects against the harshness of winter. Many customers ask if BoardSafe products need to be removed from the water and stored during the winter. The short answer is, “No, Board Safe’s floating docks, fishing piers, gangways, and adaptive accessible kayak launches do not necessarily need to be removed for the winter.”
BoardSafe’s products use high-quality grades of stainless steel, synthetic lumber, fiberglass, hardware, and other materials that are selected for their durability and ability to withstand extreme winter elements.
BoardSafe products are engineered and manufactured to perform well on rivers and tidal waters and can support various loads of spectators and athletes at rowing centers. BoardSafe takes special care to design products that are sturdy and can withstand both the elements and heavy use. Athletes in the northern United States and Canada will be happy to know that Board Safe’s docks and launches can remain in the water for the winter as long as the water levels do not fluctuate and there are no ice pack movements. Unusual situations, like draining a lake or chunks of ice floating down a river, could result in damage to the product. That said, a floating dock, fishing pier, or adaptive launch, that has a steady level and flow of water around it, will endure the winter and can be left in the water.
Each location and application is different, and BoardSafe should be consulted prior to allowing products to sit in the water all winter. With hundreds of installations across numerous climates and environmental conditions, BoardSafe is an expert in location selection, site work, design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of floating docks, piers, and adaptive launches.
To discuss your project and to learn more about BoardSafe Docks, call 610-899-0286.
BoardSafe Adaptive Fishing Dock & Kayak Launch—McNeely Lake Park, Louisville, KY
McNeely Lake Park, Louisville, Kentucky, one of the largest in the Metro Parks system, features a scenic 46-acre fishing lake with an accessible pier and boat ramp that are owned by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Korean War Memorial is also in the park.
BoardSafe Docks recently installed an adaptive fishing dock and kayak launch to make this popular lake accessible to all.
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Minsi Lake Wilderness Area, PA, Proud of Their New ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch
Minsi Lake Wilderness Area is a 311-acre park, with hiking trails, picnic areas, woodlands, wetlands, and a 117-acre lake for public fishing and boating. Northampton County Parks & Recreation manages the parkland around the lake. Facilities include two paved boat launches, two parking lots, two picnic areas, and two trails. The park recently reopened after replacing, renovating, and rebuilding decades-old park amenities and infrastructure; building new recreation and park facilities; and making Minsi Lake an accessible recreation area for everyone throughout the region — opening up access to all of their community members, regardless of their physical abilities.
Of course, part of that renovation included three of BoardSafe’s innovative products. There is an ADA-accessible launch, as well as 2 ADA-accessible, 6' x 25' fishing piers. One pier is accessed by a 5' x 20' gangway, and the other by a 5' x 40' gangway.
This installation was featured on WFMZ, an Allentown, PA, news station, in this article and video.
Here are some pictures of the installation, followed by 2 recent videos:
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ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch for Shawnee, OK, Kayak Club
BoardSafe supplied the Pott County Kayak Club of Shawnee, Oklahoma, with an ADA-accessible kayak launch at Shawnee Twin Lakes. BoardSafe worked alongside the kayak club and a local contractor to have the kayak launch installed in late April, 2021. The 12ft x 20ft launch featured a 20ft-long access gangway direct-feed kayak chute to improve accessibility for adaptive paddlers. Our team at BoardSafe is thrilled to have assisted the Pott County Kayak Club and local community with supplying the adaptive kayak launch as one of their initial projects to build an ADA-compliant community park on the shores of Shawnee Twin Lakes.
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:
Texas Rowing Center Austin Gets New BoardSafe Docks and Storage
Take a look at these photos from the installation of BoardSafe docks at the Texas Rowing Center in Austin, Texas. The Center is a rowing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) concession located in downtown Austin on the north shore of the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail, directly across from Austin High School.
Here is a recent video showing what a world-class rowing center looks like:
The main dock is 50’ x 300’ (15,000 square feet). We’ve also engineered and manufactured two 3,000-square-foot buildings that will be located directly on the dock. The building will house the racing sculls and equipment. We manufactured custom aluminum racking systems as well.
This is a major part of the ongoing improvement of the Texas Rowing Center. BoardSafe is building cages for storing the increasingly-popular standup paddleboards that are the favorite marine recreation for residents and tourists alike.
NEW: BoardSafe also provides boat storage solutions! Read about our paddleboard cages and kayak racks here.
Here are some photos of the actual on-site construction and the finished project:
Considerations When Designing and Selecting Floating Docks for Rowing Centers
Rowing centers on the East Coast and across the United States want to ensure safety for their athletes and longevity for their rowing center investments. Not all floating docks perform well in varying situations, especially under the heavy use of a rowing season. There are several factors to be considered when a rowing club, school, college, or association, designs or purchases docks for their rowing center. BoardSafe is an expert in designing and manufacturing floating docks for rowing centers. The below characteristics are built into the unparalleled design and construction of each BoardSafe dock.
Environment
The first question for any rowing center project is, "Where is the rowing center located?" Floating docks manufactured for lakes that have little variation in water levels are much different from floating docks built for tidal waters, like bays and marshes, that see dramatic fluctuations in water levels. However, some lakes see elevation changes in water because they are river-fed or have floodgates. Rivers experience a constant downstream force and vertical movements with the change in seasons and weather patterns. These factors are calculated into the production of the docks — not only their long-term durability, but also their stability and integration. Integrating a floating dock into a rowing center includes many calculations, such as the size and location of the bulkheads, pilings (internal pilings guides or external piling guides), and gangways.
Stability
As mentioned above, stability is an important factor for floating docks in rowing centers as crewmembers board and exit their boats. Additionally, rowers must remove and carry their boats from the water. BoardSafe has a proprietary calculation for floating docks to adequately support many people, accommodate point loads, and maintain a consistent position above the water level. This includes the exact placement, size, and type of floating on the floating dock. BoardSafe rowing docks also have a 5-inch freeboard. This, coupled with the dock’s overall stability, gives rowers confidence as they enter and exit their rowing shells.
Use
Rowing centers and rowing docks are obviously used for rowing. The real question is, "How are they used?" How many crews, staff members, and others, will be using the floating docks? What are the ideal dimensions for the floating docks, finger docks, and gangways? Where are the boats stored and loaded? What is the configuration of the rowing center, floating docks, finger docks, gangways, etc.? Are the boats parallel or perpendicular to the main floating docks when they are boarded?
Safe surfaces
BoardSafe specializes in manufacturing aluminum docks with composite or synthetic lumber. Specifically, BoardSafe uses NyloDeck, a composite lumber made of recycled carpet fibers, that contains no wood flour or PVC. This means that NyloDeck is ground-rated and resistant to rot, insect damage, and other wood afflictions. NyloBoard has a slip-safe surface, and the decking is held in place by the proprietary TimberStrong hidden fastening system. There are no face-nailing, splinters, or nail pops, and boards stay consistently in place over time.
High quality
All BoardSafe docks use the highest-quality materials. These include marine-grade 6160 aluminum, a proprietary extruded-aluminum frame, and plastic-encapsulated foam floats. The NyloDeck composite lumber decking on the floating dock is the only 1-inch composite deck board rated to span joists at 24 inches on center and at 16 inches on diagonals. It is twice as strong as other leading decking materials. Lightweight and easy to work with, NyloDeck is impervious to moisture, mold, mildew, and insects. The NyloDeck boards are fastened with a unique hidden fastener system developed by TimberStrong. Additionally, the hinges on the floating docks are mechanically attached to the dock. This means they are stronger. There is no welded connection holding the floating docks, like on competitors’ docks, that can compromise the integrity of the dock. It also means that dock sizes can easily be increased by connecting additional floating docks together.
Options
BoardSafe docks are built smart. They are environmentally-friendly, offering a float-through-float design that allows light to pass through to vegetation and water, and debris and plants and wildlife to pass underneath unhindered. We recommend that rowing centers work with experienced dock manufacturers who can anticipate needs and issues as well as offer solutions that make the rowing center the best it can be.
BoardSafe manufactures aluminum floating docks, piers, and gangways. We have designed and manufactured numerous specialty projects, including rowing centers and ADA docks and boat launches. For more information on your rowing center project, marina, and commercial or residential docks, call 610-899-0286 or visit boardsafedocks.com/.