NEWS

East China launches kayak experience on Belle River

Bob Gross
Times Herald
Aaron Kring, of Fort Gratiot, uses a kayak launch while trying out a boat from Missy's Kayak Connection Saturday, April 30, 2016 near Seventh Street on the Black River in Port Huron.

St. Clair County has taken another step — or maybe it should be stroke — in its progression toward becoming the paddle sport capital of Southeast Michigan.

East China Township recently installed an accessible canoe and kayak launch on the Belle River. It's the sixth such launch in the county and the first one on the Belle.

Each of the major rivers in the county — the St. Clair, the Black, the Pine and the Belle — now has at least one launch with the possibility of more coming to the county.

Cindy Beaudeau, chairwoman of the East China Parks Commission, said the launch was installed April 21 at a former state access site on North Belle River Road north of Springborn Road.

"We had seen the other ones around the county," she said. "The Belle River is a great place for people to put in.

East China Township recently installed an accessible canoe and kayak launch on the Belle River.

"We do have a canoe launch at the main park (at M-29 and Recor Road)… but we wanted to provide something more, and it’s becoming so popular."

There are launches on the Black River at the Seventh Street Bridge in Port Huron; at North River Road Park in Fort Gratiot; and at Bakers Field in Port Huron Township. Marysville has a launch at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River. St. Clair has a launch at the municipal boat harbor on the Pine River.

Mark Brochu, director of St. Clair County Parks and Recreation, said a seventh launch will be on the Black River at Woodsong County Park in Clyde Township

He said the accessible launches address two needs.

"One, people are looking for places to access our abundant waterways," Brochu said, "and two, the biggest challenges for kayakers in particular is getting in and out of their kayaks."

The launch facilities have slips lined with rollers. A kayaker can get into his or her watercraft, then use the rollers and handrails to propel the kayak into the water. The same system allows the kayaker to exit the water.

Missy Campau, owner of Missy's Kayak Connection, paddles along with Samuel Eschenko, 13, while giving boat demonstrations Saturday, April 30, 2016 on the Black River in Port Huron.

An adjustable slide-out bench allows people using wheelchairs access to the cockpit of the kayak.

The system also works for canoes but, as Brochu said, "As an old Boy Scout I can tell you it's a lot easier to get in and out of a canoe than it is to get in and out of a kayak."

Beaudeau said East China bought the former access site from the state in 2012 for $5,700. Construction at the site, which includes a paved parking lot with space for three parking spaces and two accessible spaces, a concrete ramp to the river's edge and concrete steps, started in October.

Beaudeau said the township devoted most of three years of the money it gets from the county's 1-mill recreation tax — which worked out to $45,212 — plus $48,500 in township funds to pay for the work.

The township should be getting some of that back. The county will reimburse it for the cost of the launch after requirements — such as a sign stating its use is free and open to everyone — are met.

"We reimburse them," Brochu said. "For their launch in particular, it will be $26,928.50."

Beaudeau said the township will be looking at more parking, possibly on Springborn, than the current five spaces.

She said people can head upstream toward East China Township Park, or downstream to Marine City.

"It is nice," she said. "You can go along at your own pace, and if you do want to get out into the big river you have access to that."

Lori Eschenburg, of the St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission and caretaker of the popular Blueways of St. Clair County website, said she's had a lot of interest in the new kayak and canoe launch.

"I put it on Facebook and it's been viewed more than 6,500 times," she said.

Tiffany Sassanella, of Fort Gratiot, uses a kayak launch while trying out a boat from Missy's Kayak Connection Saturday, April 30, 2016 near Seventh Street on the Black River in Port Huron.

Eschenburg said as the launch program could expand from the current six sites to as many as 11. Clay Township, for example, is scheduled to get a facility after it develops a new park on the North Channel of the St. Clair River. St. Clair Township, also is looking at a launch at Fred Meiselbach Park on the Pine River at Bartlett Road.

Kimball Township also is considering a launch on the Black River near the Wadhams Bridge, and a launch could go in at the Marine City Dredge Cut north of Algonac, Eschenburg said.

She said the county offers a wide variety of water, ranging from the usually placid inland rivers to the muscular flow of the St. Clair River. She said she directs beginners to the Pine and the Belle as well as to the 40th Street Pond in Port Huron Township.

"Kayaking doesn't take up a lot of time and money," Eschenburg said.

"It's a sport most people can do, and all ages can do," she said. "And you don't need a lot of time. You can even do it after work."

Finally, she said, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding all bring people to St. Clair County where they spend money on things such as fuel and food.

East China Township recently installed an accessible canoe and kayak launch on the Belle River.

"For me, recreation is all about economic development," Eschenburg said.

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477

Paddling in St. Clair County

  • Accessible kayak and canoe launches on the Black River are at the Seventh Street Bridge in Port Huron; at North River Road Park in Fort Gratiot Township; and at Bakers Field in Port Huron Township.
  • An accessible launch on the St. Clair River will be moved to north of the water treatment plant on River Road in Marysville.
  • A launch on the Pine River is at the Charles F. Moore Municipal Boat Harbor in St. CLair.
  • And a launch on the Belle River is on North Belle River Road, north of Springborn Road in East China Township.
  • The Blueways of St. Clair consist of 16 mapped water routes including the 10.1-mile long Island Loop National Water Trail. The trail takes paddlers along the Black Rver Canal, Lake Huron, the St. Clair River and the Black River.
  • The newest route, which has yet to be named, will use the restored Crispin Drain to take paddlers from the North Channel of the St. Clair River through the interior of Harsens Island to Muscamoot Bay on Lake St. Clair.
  • For more information, visit the Blueways of St. Clair website at www.bluewaysofstclair.org.

Business opening

  • Missy's Kayak Connection, at 508 Quay St., Port Huron,will have its grand opening at 4 p.m. May 7. Paddlers will gather around 4 p.m. in the Black River between the Seventh Street Bridge and the Military Street Bridge for a group photo,.
  • For more information, call (810) 488-0798. Missy's also is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MissysKayakConnection/?fref=ts. The website is at www.missyskayakconnection.com/