The Starke County Park Board continues to study locations for Yellow River kayak launches. Engineer Mark Wilson with Jones Petrie Rafinski presented a kayak launch feasibility study during Tuesday’s meeting.
He noted that the bridge crossings at 1100 and 700 East are already popular launch locations. “I really like 1100 East,” he said. “It’s pretty much ready-made, except it could use some signage.”
Board Member Rik Ritzler noted that the county already has a fair amount of right-of-way by the bridge on 1100 East, while the place where kayakers typically park near 700 East is technically private property.
Wilson also recommended improvements in Wythogan Park. “The issue is there’s that spillway right downstream of U.S. 35,” Wilson explained. “That’s actually a hazard. I know some guys that would love to go throw it, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a family. And really, there ought to be a place to get out, portage, and then put back in.”
However, that would require coordination with the City of Knox.
Wilson felt that adding launches between Knox and English Lake would be a bit more difficult, but said that 100 West would be a slightly better location than Range Road.
County officials suggested prioritizing the sites on the east side of the county that would need relatively little work, and saving the rest for a possible later phase. Ritzler said he’d work with Wilson to find the ones that are easy to do. He plans to bring recommendations to the rest of the board next month.
