Lakeside Park kayak launch delayed
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MAYVILLE - A new kayak launch is not expected to be installed at Lakeside Park this year.
During the August Mayville Village Board meeting, officials pulled a resolution to award a contract to who would install the kayak launch.
The kayak launch has been part of the Lakeside Park project since it accepted a $675,000 state grant back in December, 2022. Along with a new kayak launch, the grant was for updated trails in the park, improved parking near the Chautauqua Belle, and other upgrades near the Belle.
The village was also given $50,000 from the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Development and Mayville committed to spend $175,000 as a match, bringing the total to $900,000.
The village was also awarded a $20,000 grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
The original kayak launch was expected to cost more than $100,000, so changes were made and the project was rebid.
In July, Mayor Rick Syper said there were no formal bids that were received, but they did have one company interested in submitting a bid, which was going to be below $100,000. The village re-advertised for bids.
At the August meeting, Syper said they actually received two bids - one for $96,851 and another for $71,689. Because of this, he wanted more time to review the two of them before voting.
Syper said there's no point in rushing the project. "It's going to take 10 to 12 weeks either way we go. It's not going in this year either way you look at it," he said.
After being installed, kayak launches are generally put in the water in the spring and removed in the fall to avoid being damaged in the winter.
Syper also said he wants to talk to other municipalities about how they were able to install them and how they are pulled out and stored in the winter.
In 2021, the Department of State announced it had installed kayak launches at Cattaraugus Creek Boat Launch in Hanover, the Walnut Creek boat launch in Silver Creek, Dunkirk Harbor in the City of Dunkirk, and Barcelona Harbor in Westfield, and near the Route 394 Bridge in Busti/North Harmony.
Those kayak launches are all ADA compliant, which Mayville is planning to have as well.
There are other kayak launches in the county as well, including Cassadaga, Findley Lake, Jamestown, and Lakewood.