Marshfield’s new kayak storage to make accessing water more convenient

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Marshfield’s new kayak storage to make accessing water more convenient

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https://marshfield.wickedlocal.com/news ... convenient

$5k from Division of Marine Fisheries will fund racks at Green Harbor, Peter Igo Park

Marshfield Harbormaster Mike Dimeo says a $5,000 state grant recently awarded to the town will help more people in town access and enjoy the water on a regular basis.

The Division of Marine Fisheries grant will go toward the installation of paddleboard and kayak racks at Green Harbor, near the harbormaster’s building, and Peter Igo Park. Dimeo said the new equipment will be in place by this summer.

At Green Harbor, a launch area with dedicated parking for kayakers, canoers and paddleboards will also be designated.

“We’re trying to give everybody a piece of the pie, so everybody has access to the waterfront,” DiMeo said. “The recreational folks have the boat ramps and docks, the commercial folks have the commercial floats and piers, now the recreational folk can have their own area to launch.”

The racks in both locations will be available for overnight and seasonal storage, which Dimeo hopes will allow residents to use their recreational equipment more often.

“The kayaks and paddleboards are getting bigger and bulkier, so if we can provide an area for residents to store them in season, rather than each day they come having to put them on their truck racks or car racks, they’d probably use them more,” he said.

Over the next couple months, Dimeo will be working on rules and regulations for use, as well as determining a permit fee for equipment that will be stored there. Depending on the popularity of the program, availability will be determined on a lottery or first-come, first-served basis.

In 2015, the town received a grant for $10,000 from the DMF, which was used at Peter Igo Park to build and install a dock and float system at the river’s edge, improve the access trail and create a parking area for boaters. The new kayak and paddleboard rack to be installed at the park will complement those earlier projects.

“Together with Green Harbor River Rowing, the river area is well taken care of, providing a safe and environmentally sound program for frequent users of the river,” said Bud Duksta, chairman of the Friends of Peter Igo Park.

Green Harbor River Rowing also works with the Marshfield Recreation Department, offering $20 daily canoe and kayak rentals

“The summer season is very short, so if they’re able to use their recreational equipment more, then it’s a good thing,” Dimeo said. “It gets more people in the area, so it was a good opportunity and definitely a good use of the saltwater funding the state puts out every year.”

The harbormaster said he’s seen a huge increase in the amount of residents using kayaks in recent years and that many kayakers fish prolifically from their vessels.

“It’s a way of being on the water for much cheaper than renting a boat,” he said. “Kayaks also give you the ability to come and go much easier, they’re easier to maneuver.”

In his time as harbormaster, Dimeo has applied for and received numerous grants for the town; in 2018, state grants included $280,000 for South River dredging and $95,000 for a feasibility study of aging piers, wharfs and revetment walls.

Construction of the town’s new maritime center, officially opened in September 2018, was largely funded by over $2 million in grants from the Seaport Economic Council.

While this grant is smaller than some of the previous ones the town has received, Dimeo is excited for what the money will bring to the town.

“You can’t hit a home run every time with a $1 million grant, which I’m a big fan of, but this $5,000 is going to go a long way,” he said. “It’s going to make people happy.”
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