If you like kayaking or canoeing, it's now much easier to get a boat in and out of the water at Marquette Park in Gary.
Gary added a new launch for canoes and kayaks that's accessible to people with disabilities. It's on the lagoon in Gary's Miller neighborhood, which is scenic enough to be the backdrop for many weddings.
The accessible launch at Marquette Park at Miller Beach — only the third of its kind in the state — will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday. It's near the Pavilion at 1 N. Grand Blvd.
“The launch is excellent improvement and an added amenity to our park," Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said.
Causes for Change International, the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, Access Miller Neighborhood Spotlight and the city of Gary collaborated on the project, which is part of a broader initiative to make Marquette Park more accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Legacy Foundation contributed $25,000 to the new launch, and funding also came from the Miller Community Fund, Mortar Net Solutions and a GoFundMe crowd-sourcing campaign.
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The dedication will kick off the Gary Clean Water Festival, which will feature canoeing, kayaking, biking, creative arts, fitness, fishing, hiking and more.
For more information about the festival, call (219) 882.3000 or email Bhenry@ci.gary.in.us.
Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
