COLUMBUS, Ohio – In an effort to increase access and opportunities for paddlers, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is presenting Paddling Enhancement grants to nine political subdivisions. The communities each get a portion of the awarded grants worth $526,163.
“As paddle sports continue to grow, these grant dollars also provide benefits for local tourism and economic opportunities in addition to increased access to some of Ohio’s beautiful lakes and rivers,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “We are excited to give more communities the opportunity to welcome people onto their lakes and rivers for some stress-free fun.”
Since the grant program’s inception in 2020, a total of $2.1 million has been awarded to 34 projects. The grant is capped at $75,000 per project. Individual grant awards ranged from $29,920 to $75,000.
“ODNR is dedicated to providing local communities with new and improved facilities to help meet the growing demand for paddling access in Ohio” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Time on the water can do so much for someone’s state of mind, and these grants will give more people access to that kind of experience.”
The grants are funded by Ohio’s recreational boaters through the Waterways Safety Fund, which is comprised of a share of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The awardees for this round of Paddling Enhancement grants are:
Fayette County
Fayette County Engineer – $75,000
- Installation of a new canoe launch at Ghormley Road on Paint Creek.
Harrison County
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District – $43,173.43
- Installation of a new kayak launch at the Tappan Lake Marina Public Launch on Tappan Lake.
Jackson County
City of Jackson – $75,000
- New ADA kayak launch, parking, and sidewalk at Hammertown Lake.
Montgomery County
Five Rivers Metroparks – $74,992
- Improvements to river access parking with ADA enhancements at the Twin Creek Metropark Eckhart Road River Access on Twin Creek.
Putnam County
Village of Ottawa – $75,000
- New walking paths, steps, and driveways to improve access at Arrowhead Landing and Reservoir Landing along the Blanchard River.
Ross County
Ross County Park District – $29,920
- Improved parking and breakwater protection on the North Fork of Paint Creek.
Sandusky County
Sandusky County Park District – $41,815.80
- Construction of a small non-motorized boat ramp, sidewalk, lighting, and concrete pad at the River Cliff Boat Ramp on the Sandusky River.
Scioto County
City of Portsmouth – $36,262.50
- Installation of a new launch and gravel parking at the Alexandria Point Paddling Facility on the Scioto River.
Scioto County – $75,000
- Construction of a launch ramp and parking lot at the Lucasville Launch on the Scioto River.
There will be another round of Paddling Enhancement grants offered in 2023. Applications for next year’s grant will be accepted January 1, 2023 through March 1, 2023.
The ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft provides exceptional outdoor recreation and boating opportunities by balancing outstanding customer service, education, and conservation of Ohio’s 75 state parks and waterways.
