Seven Grants for Improved Boating Access Awarded

The Division of Watercraft has awarded a total of $3.6 million in Cooperative Boating Access Facility grants to improve public boating access at seven sites across the state next year. The grant awards range from $35,500 for dock improvements at the Miller Park boat launch in Avon Lake to $2,247,055 to construct a new boat launch facility along the Ohio River within the Wayne National Forest in Washington County. Other funded projects are located in Paulding, Tuscarawas, Mahoning, Lawrence and Scioto counties.

The Cooperative Boating Access Facility Grant Program returns a portion of the money that boaters spend in Ohio to them in the form of better boating facilities. The grant program is supported by a percentage of state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis and administered by the ODNR Division of Watercraft to improve recreational boating access for the state's estimated 3 million boaters.

Facilities Funded

Village of Oakwood: Replacement of a 30-year old, one land ramp with a new ramp and a boarding dock. A parking lot for 20 cars and trailers will also be constructed. The new facility will be handicapped-accessible.

Village of Tuscarawas: Two additional floating docks will be added to the existing ramp and the parking lot will be paved and lighted.

Wayne National Forest: A new two-lane boat ramp will be constructed in the Frontier area of the park. Also new will be a parking lot to accommodate at least 70 cars/trailers. The facility will be handicapped-accessible.

Wayne National Forest (Ironton District): A new handicapped-accessible canoe launch ramp and dock will be installed at Symmes Creek. A restroom facility will be added and gravel will be placed at the parking lot and canoe trail.

Avon Lake: 100 feet of courtesy dock space will be added to the existing facility at the Miller Park Boat Launch. The facility will be handicapped-accessible.

Lake Milton: The ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation will install 32 new courtesy docks along the shoreline north of the beach. This will give boaters better access to beach facilities, restrooms, concessions and the new amphitheater.

Burke’s Point Landing: This boat launch facility will be improved with a paved parking lot and ramp driveways and the installation of guard rails.