The Put-in-Bay Township Park District along with partners such as the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program and Ohio Sea Grant has announced the release of the new “Lake Erie Islands Water Trails guide.” A ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand opening of the trails will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the South Bass Island State Park at the annual Kayak Rendezvous.
The brochure features five circular paddling routes and associated public access points around South Bass, Middle Bass, North Bass, Kelley’s Island and the Catawba and Marblehead peninsula area. Access points to the nearly 60 miles of paddling trails are visible from the water and marked with color-coded signs that coordinate with the guide by island. Safety, environmental information, access amenities, and paddling distances are also included.
The guide comes as a response to the growing interest of kayaking and paddling sports in the area. “We wanted to create a guide that could help people be safe on Lake Erie and show them where proper access sites are located,” said Lisa Brohl, commissioner for the Put-in-Bay Township Park District.
The free guides will be available at the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Visitors Centers in Port Clinton and Sandusky, as well as the Lake Erie Island State Park Offices on South Bass, Middle Bass and Kelleys Islands and the Aquatic Visitors Center at Put-in-Bay. It is also available online at go.osu.edu/LEwatertrails.
“This exciting project has come together with the help of many partners who see the opportunities of increased recreation, awareness of island resources and economic impacts,” said Andrea Irland, outdoor recreation planner for the National Park Service’s River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. “Residents, visitors and the entire island community will benefit from these Lake Erie Island Water Trails.”
The project was made possible by an Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program carries out the natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation mission of the National Park Service in communities across America.
The Put-in-Bay Township Park District was formed in 2006 and is dedicated to protecting and preserving unique areas that enhance the heritage of the Lake Erie Islands.
Ohio State University's Ohio Sea Grant College Program is part of NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 33 Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources.
For more information, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.
