Politics & Government
Common Street Canoe Launch Construction Delayed
LeClair cites lack of funding by the Mass Dept. of Fishing and Boating.
The full opening of Dedham’s Charles River water trail has been delayed.
Dedham Environmental Coordinator Virginia LeClair said this week that the Massachusetts Department of Fishing and Boating, who is paying for and constructing the boat launch at has two projects ahead of Dedham’s and as of now has run out of money.
Dedham will have to wait until Fishing and Boating’s next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2012.
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“We’re hoping to begin construction on Town Landing within the next week or two,” said LeClair. The town landing canoe launch is on Bullard Street, next to the , and is a town-run project. LeClair added that they are in negotiations with contractors to start building Town Landing soon.
So far, she said they have designed signs and had Boy Scout Vinnie Fraser install historical markers and signs along the banks of the Charles for his Eagle Scout project.
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She said Fraser and other Boy Scouts walked along the banks with a ladder and a sledgehammer pounding in the posts. LeClair noted that the posts were donated by the .
“We have to decide internally whether or not we’ll have to wait for the kick-off [until next year],” said LeClair.
A grand event originally was scheduled for this weekend.
Currently, they are designing the waterproof maps that will be sold in local stores. LeClair said they are also working on a website that will have the map of the water trail and Dedham hiking trails. It will also detail boater safety rules and regulations, and the historical and environmental features of the Charles River.
Eventually, she said they hope to have a virtual tour of the water trail on the website with the idea that people can view the site and decide whether or not they want to paddle the loop. The route is potentially three hours long, but “people can hop on and off at different points,” LeClair said.
Although they anticipate the construction on Town Landing to begin next week, the town doesn't have an estimate as to when it will be completed.
“We’re still working with contractors and getting their schedules,” LeClair said.
