BoardSafeDocks Supports Future Business Leaders
BoardSafeDocks Supports Future Business Leaders
Tom Warchol of BoardSafe Docks recently attended a business trade fair at APW High School in Parish, NY. BoardSafeDocks was invited to participate and share our accessible products with the Future Business Leaders of America Club at their High school's trade fair. It is great to support such a strong group of students engaged in business. Pictured with Tom is Norah, an active member of the club. #FutureBusinessLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerPreparation #StudentNetworking #College/TechnicalCareerPartnerships
Paddlers Celebrate New BoardSafe Docks Kayak Launch at Beaubien Woods
New Adventure, access, and community connection have arrived at Beaubien Woods! Nestled in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Beaubien Woods is a 279-acre natural gem where prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats meet. Centered around scenic Flatfoot Lake—the vibrant preserve that is located off W. Doty Ave S, just southeast of E 130th St. and S Ellis Ave. in Chicago—Beaubien Woods has become an even more exciting destination for paddlers, anglers, and families alike.
A New Era for Beaubien Woods
The Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPDCC) recently unveiled a wave of new improvements at a recent ribbon-cutting celebration. The star attraction was a BoardSafeDocks Accessible Canoe and Kayak Launch, designed to open the water to paddlers of all ages and abilities. The project also features comfortable riverside seating, a program shelter, interpretive signage, and an upgraded fishing boardwalk that invites everyone to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Little Calumet River.
From the moment you enter the preserve, accessibility takes center stage. The park’s inclusive picnic shelter welcomes all visitors, while a sturdy dock stretches out over the 19-acre Flatfoot Lake. The lake is an inviting spot to share laughter, launch a kayak, or cast a fishing line. The lake, stocked with channel catfish and bluegill-sunfish hybrids, is a favorite for local anglers and youth programs alike.
Nature, Community, and Celebration
At the ribbon-cutting event, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle captured the spirit of the day:
“Beaubien Woods is a place where our community, culture, and nature can now come together. These new amenities will allow visitors of all ages and abilities to fish, paddle, picnic, and participate in programs that celebrate this site’s natural beauty and history. The investments create more equitable access to outdoor recreation on Chicago’s South Side and promote stewardship and the spirit of inclusion in Cook County.”
Bill Bogdan, Disability Liaison at the Secretary of State’s office, demonstrates how to use BoardSafe’s Accessible Kayak Launch. Bogdan’s opinion about the launch is, “It’s awesome.” Bogdan also serves on the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s accessibility advisory board and said, “I feel our forest preserves are hidden gems. I plan to continue to increase accessibility awareness for people with disabilities. I’m going to make sure I hold them to the tag line, 'nature is for everyone.’ It’s great to be able to launch our kayaks safely and easily.”
Learn more about Beaubien Woods | Openlands. Openlands is a conservation partner that highlights the accessible features, including the fishing pier, kayak launch, and picnic shelter at the updated site.
That spirit of conservation and collaboration runs deep. The Field Museum and Calumet Stewardship Initiative regularly organize volunteer days focused on cleanup, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration. Each June, community partners and the Forest Preserves host a free family nature festival, turning Beaubien Woods into a lively hub of music, laughter, and discovery.
With its mix of restored landscapes, accessible design, and a renewed sense of community connection, Beaubien Woods is once again proving that nature belongs to everyone. We hope you’ll take the time to check out these new accessible sites that are part of the draw to the preserve.
Praise from paddlers who require additional accommodations and features found on a BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch shows evidence of how BoardSafe’s inclusive design can impact a community and how the launch naturally meets the needs of paddlers in wheelchairs. This is the spirit of innovation and inclusion that BoardSafe Docks embodies.
Here's to continued success in making waterfronts accessible to all! For more information about BoardSafe’s Accessible Kayak Launch, accessible fishing piers, and courtesy boat docks, contact us at 610-899-0286.
#BeaubienWoods #AccessibleKayaking #FPDCC #AccessibleFishing #UniversalAccess #NatureisforEveryone
BoardSafe Spokesman and Accessible Sports Advocate Ken Ryno Keeps Chugging Along
At the age of 17, Ken Ryno had a motorcycle accident that changed his life. It did not ruin his life, but changed it for the benefit of others.
Ken was told he would never walk again. For 23 years, this was true, but it did not stop him from trying. Long story short, Ken is now a spokesman for BoardSafe Docks, touting the benefits of our ADA-accessible launches, docks, and piers.
Read Ken's remarkable story here: tnonline.com/20210612/warmest-regards-little-engine-that-could-still-chugging/.
Links to our ADA-accessible products:
Adaptive Products
Accessible Kayak Launch
Adaptive Fishing Piers
Clip-a-Launch
Instructions for Using the BoardSafe Kayak Launch
Adaptive Features That Make a Kayak Launch ADA-Accessible
“Just because a product is marketed as ‘accessible’ doesn’t mean that we can actually use it" — Michael White, avid outdoorsman and paddler who lived with spina bifida.
BoardSafe’s uniquely-accessible kayak launches maximize the number of users in a community who can use the launch by making them truly inclusive for those with moderate to severe physical challenges.
Direct quotation made prior to becoming a BoardSafe client (See below for client testimonials.) "Not only are the transfers of some with mobility impairments questionably safe but also the moving of the kayaks in/out of the water. I was not comfortable with the consistent level of safety that we are able to provide for our volunteers, all staff and, of course, our participants.” — Alice Krauss, M.Ed., OTR/L, Manager, Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Brooks Rehabilitation
BoardSafe Docks understands the needs and concerns of adaptive athletes, so we have worked with them to engineer ADA-accessible kayak launches that incorporate our unique aluminum materials and floating mechanisms.
Here are some of the features that make BoardSafe docks the perfect choice for paddlers.
- ADA-compliant features include a uniform 1:12-slope aluminum gangway that is adjacent to the composite-decking boat slide. This design allows individuals to ease their kayak down the slide while they travel along the gangway.
- The floating dock and gangway have a 36″ continuous handrail along the perimeter, consistent with ADA requirements.
- Aluminum floating docks with boat access are engineered for maximum flotation stabilization considering the size, number, and placement of plastic-encapsulated floats. The marine conditions and water movement (tidal waters, rivers, lake ice, etc.) are also considered.
- On the floating dock, there is a loading bench that is 16″ high. Our group of adaptive kayakers determined this to be the ideal height to allow them to transfer over from a wheelchair. On the loading bench, there are four levels with 4" rises. The athlete can use the handrail that runs the length of the bench to guide himself or herself along the bench to the boat. On the last transition, there is a pullout seat that extends out and across the top of the boat. The users can simply slide across the pullout seat, locate themselves directly across the kayak seat, and guide themselves into the boat.
- Surrounding the kayak is the roll cage. It is a frame of handrails and hand straps offering the individual numerous gripping options for lowering into the boat.
- Supporting the boat in the water is a partially-submerged bracket system to stabilize the kayak.
- Our kayak launches are stand-up paddleboard (SUP) compatible, allowing the adaptive athlete to participate in the rapidly-growing SUP sport.
Client Testimonials
"We have been VERY impressed by BoardSafe, and they have developed a system which we feel is superior to the EZ Dock system." — Leon Mertz, Lake Loramie Improvement Association
"BoardSafe has all the features to provide the most access to the greatest number of users." — George White, Wetland Biologist, Team River Runner Chapter Coordinator
"After a Category 3 hurricane flooded our area we found that all the kayak launches were ripped away, except for the BoardSafe launch. It didn’t move an inch." — Chris Camp, Principal Engineer, City of Cape Coral, FL
"The construction and installation of our new ramp and dock were flawless … we are the envy of our neighbors on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia." — Michael Ragan, Pennsylvania Barge Club
This installation was highlighted on the following real estate presentation:
For more information about the BoardSafe Docks family of adaptive products, click here.
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.
New Dock Makes PA Barge Club Envy of Boathouse Row
The following is a testimonial about how pleased the Pennsylvania Barge Club was with BoardSafe's efficiency and hassle-free client interaction during their new dock installation.
I want to thank you and Northeast for the fabulous job you did at Pennsylvania Barge Club. The demolition and removal of our old ramp and dock as well as the construction and installation of our new ramp and dock were flawless and without any headaches on our part during the project. And the finished product is absolutely beautiful. We are the envy of our neighbors on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.
Your attention to detail as well as your quick responsiveness to any of our concerns was greatly appreciated. Your ability to respond to our needs and requests was certainly very gratifying especially when a construction project can be such a harrowing experience. In this case, it will be nothing but pleasant memories.
Both our members and tenants were amazed at how efficiently the project was managed. And, all are extremely happy with the finished project.
We certainly picked the right contractor for the job and for that I am extremely grateful.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Ragan
President. Pennsylvania Barge Club
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
Testimonial: Small Aluminum Floating Dock and Aluminum Gangway in Maryland
Recently, BoardSafe Docks completed a small commercial project in the Chesapeake Bay area. The project, though small, was complex, including multiple site issues: fluctuating water levels, cross currents, and a peculiar embankment on the water approach. Despite this, BoardSafe managed to engineer and install a safe and sturdy aluminum floating dock and aluminum gangway that left the owner thoroughly impressed.
"Let me tell you how much I admire the quality, design, and workmanship of your BoardSafe ramp and floating dock. It is beautiful and is a definite asset to my property. I want to thank you for stepping up to the challenge of finding yourself unexpectedly faced with the installation. You and your wife were very generous with your time and expertise when I really needed it. You and your company deserve the great success you enjoy — you have earned it. It was a pleasure doing business with you."
This is just one instance of how BoardSafe's experienced engineers and installers can meet any challenge with our aluminum floating docks and aluminum gangways. We can do the same for you!
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BoardSafe Featured in Industry Newsletter
Bethlehem-based insurance carrier, HMK Insurance, featured their client BoardSafe Docks and gave them accolades for their dedication to making aquatic sports and activities more accessible. Below is a snippet of the article:
HMK Client Spotlight: Northeast Products & Services Inc.
How does one manufacture state-of-the-art aluminum boating docks and rowing centers in the middle of a cornfield in rural Pennsylvania? HMK client, Northeast Products & Services, Inc., has certainly figured it out. At their Topton, PA, location, they specialize in engineering and manufacturing floating marinas, rowing centers, gangways, and adaptive docks. Northeast Products & Services, Inc. has been called upon by rowing associations, universities, and cities, to create their unique one-of-a- kind products branded as BoardSafe Docks. In looking closer at the Boardsafe Dock products, the expertise and innovation of this business have an impact far greater than those requiring a water-facing structure. Their projects directly affect the well-being and lives of the general public. Click here to read the article.