Agreement Reached On Kayak Launch

Middletown is one step closer to having its own kayak/canoe launch to access the natural diversity and beauty of the Coginchaug and Mattabasset Rivers, and the freshwater tidal marshland known as the Boggy Meadows.

A collaborative effort between the Coginchaug River Access Group (CRAG), a committee formed by The Jonah Center for Earth and Art, and the City’s Planning Department resulted in a proposal to construct a public kayak launch on the edge of city property at the North End Peninsula a site chosen only after other options had been thoroughly explored. The Department of Public Works evaluated and approved the proposal, and last week the Mayor’s Office gave it the support necessary to move forward.

The trail to the river and boat launch will begin near the entrance to the city’s recycling center (at the north end of Johnson Street, just across the railroad tracks). The trail will follow parallel to the railroad tracks to the left (west) for approximately 500 feet to reach the Coginchaug River next to the railroad bridge (center right portion of the picture above). The trail and ramp will be handicapped accessible, with a floating dock at the water’s edge to make kayak launching easier for everyone, including people using wheelchairs.

The project will be funded largely by a $50,000 federal trails grant, administered by the CT DEP, that the Jonah Center initiated and applied for on behalf of the City in 2006. The Department of Public Works will provide significant in-kind services to prepare the area, including engineering work, brush removal, and grading. The trail will be meander slightly to avoid the need to remove large trees.

The City’s approval was announced Tuesday night (Oct. 19) at a Jonah Center public meeting at First Church, where a message from Mayor Sebastian Giuliano was delivered in a letter:

“… During my tenure as Mayor, it has become clear to me that the city works best when we are all working together. This alternative [plan] will work because we have achieved a consensus. I am happy to say that all parties involved have agreed to this proposal. We can now move forward with confidence to the design and permitting stages, knowing that the city administration and Jonah Center are speaking with a unified voice. I thank you for all you do for this community and I congratulate you on moving forward with this project. I look forward to the ribbon cutting.”

In some respects the project has come full circle. The original grant proposal was for a kayak launch father north on the North End Peninsula, beyond the Recycling Center, and was rejected by the City due to concerns about safety and liability. The formation by the Jonah Center of the Coginchaug River Access Group earlier this year was an effort to provide the City with a workable proposal for the $50,000 grant so that it could be utilized before expiring at the end of 2010. With the assistance of Bill Warner, Director of Planning, Conservation, and Development, and the Department’s Environmental Specialist, Matt Dodge, the group examined all potential locations and finally determined that the location mentioned above was the only feasible site. The original CRAG members were Kate Miller (Chair), Jane Brawerman, Joe Carta, Trevor Davis, Paul Dyka, Beth Emery, John Hall, and Ron Krom. Steven Ladd, Faith Lin, Katherine Owens, and Dimitri D'Allesandro joined the group as work progressed.

A detailed plan is being submitted to the DEP, whose approval is anticipated, perhaps with slight modifications. Necessary approvals from City agencies will also be sought. After all necessary permitting has been completed, it is hoped that construction will be complete in 2011. Work at the shore is best completed in late summer and early fall, when water level is lowest. Concrete, interlocking pavers will be laid down for a linear distance of 200 feet from the water’s edge and up the slope of the trail, to accommodate launching at all tidal and flood levels. There are also plans for an information kiosk at the trail’s entrance, and “trail signs” out on the water.

Volunteer labor may help stretch grant dollars. The Jonah Center and CRAG hope to help organize volunteer efforts next year. Interested individuals should contact John Hall at 860-346-6657 x13 if they would like to be updated on the project and on volunteer opportunities.