ADA Kayak Dock Launch for Adaptive Paddlers Unveiled in Beltzville, PA, State Park Lake
ADA adaptive kayak launch manufacturer BoardSafe unveils a new ADA adaptive kayak launch. The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation hosted an official dedication ceremony for the new ADA boat launch that allows those with disabilities to more easily enter a kayak and set out on the lake, at Beltzville’s Preachers Camp Boat Launch in the early evening.
Beltzville is a Pennsylvania State Park and Lake located outside of Lehighton in Carbon County. The park is just over 3,000 acres, with 949 acres being the lake.
Also in attendance was the Lehigh Valley River Runner, a local chapter of the national group, Team River Runner, that promotes the benefits of being outdoors, being active, and experiencing camaraderie through paddling. Team River Runner continues to display how kayaking and paddling provide freedom to those who are handicapped or wheelchair-bound.
The ADA adaptive kayak launch is a boat launch with Americans with Disabilities Act features that assist the adaptive paddler to get their boat to the water, transfer down a step and handrail to the boat, enter the boat with multiple handrail options, a kayak stabilizing system to steady the boat, and ultimately, a launch feature to safely take off into open water.
As seen in the picture, there is a gangway with minimum gade leading from the shore to the aluminum floating dock, paralleled by a boat slide that allows the adaptive athlete to ease their boat down to the dock. Once on the aluminum floating dock, the dock surface is decked with synthetic lumber that provides maintenance-free, sturdy, and nonslip surface. In the middle of the floating dock are an aluminum bench and handrail that step down and lower the paddler to their boat. Surrounding the kayak is a series of handlebars and hand straps to provide options to the paddler as they enter the cockpit. A submerged system of aluminum bars stabilized the boat for the paddler to safely transition and position themselves comfortably for launching.
