Fox Cities offer 12 public launches that cater to paddlers; more are in the works
Reader question: Where in the Fox Cities can I find public kayak launches? Is there a fee to use them?
Answer: I checked with eight Fox Cities communities, and together they provide 12 public kayak launches on the Fox River or Little Lake Butte des Morts. Additional launches are in the works.
None of the communities charge a fee to use the launches.
Neenah Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kading said kayak launches — he prefers the term quiet watercraft launches to also account for canoes, stand-up paddleboards, etc. — rank high on the list of requested park and recreation amenities.
"It isn't maybe No. 1," Kading told me, "but it's certainly in the top five."
The cost of a kayak launch depends on the model, size and site preparation but can reach $50,000.
Neenah will add a kayak launch this summer on a pier at Arrowhead Park. Kading said the purchase of the gangway and launch cost $47,000. "This does not take into account the development of the balance of the pier structure," he said.
More: Fox River ranks high in importance, fifth in length and area in Wisconsin
Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions
Here are the locations of public kayak launches in the area
Appleton: Lutz Park, 1320 S. Lutz Drive, and Telulah Park, 1300 E. Newberry St. Both provide access to the Fox River.
Neenah: Shattuck Park, 210 E. Wisconsin Ave., provides access to the Fox River. Herb & Dolly Smith Park, 167 N. Lake St., offers access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.
As noted above, Arrowhead Park, 355 Millview Drive, will join the list this summer. It has access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.
Other Neenah locations that paddlers commonly use, though there is no dedicated launch, are Doty Park, 701 Lincoln St.; Recreation Park, 600 S. Park Ave.; Fresh Air Park, 495 Maple Lane; and the east end of Wisconsin Avenue. Doty provides access to the Fox River, and the others provide access to Lake Winnebago.
Menasha: Jefferson Park, 915 Third St.; Menasha Marina, 1 Center St.; and the Fox Cities Trestle at the west end of Broad Street. The launches provide access to the Fox River and Menasha canal.
Fox Crossing: Fritse Park, 937 N. Lake St., has access to Little Lake Butte des Morts.
There is no fee to use the launch, but there is a fee to park a boat or kayak trailer in the parking lot.
Director of Parks and Recreation Amanda Geiser said Fox Crossing plans to install a launch at Butte des Morts Park, 301 Frances St., yet this year or next year to provide a second access point to Little Lake Butte des Morts. The quote for the launch is about $45,000. "That does not include any site preparation," she said.
Kimberly: Sunset Park, 200 Sunset Park Road, provides access to the Fox River.
While the launch is free for paddlers who bring their own kayak, the village also has a rental site next to the launch in partnership with Kayak Wisconsin. For a fee, paddlers can rent a single or tandem kayak through www.kayakwis.com. Rentals include a life jacket, paddle and the use of a dry bag for the trip.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see The Post-Crescent's special offers at postcrescent.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play.
Little Chute: Heesakker Park, 1509 E. Lincoln Ave., has access to the Fox River.
The village partners with Kayak Wisconsin to rent kayaks for anyone who doesn't have their own.
Combined Locks: The village doesn't have public property on the Fox River, so it has no kayak launch. "We have one listed in our comprehensive plan should we be lucky enough to obtain public access to the river," Village Administrator Racquel Shampo-Giese said.
Kaukauna: 1000 Islands Environmental Center, 1000 Beaulieu Court, and Trestle Park under the Lawe Street bridge provide access to the Fox River.
The city says Trestle Park has limited access for experienced kayakers to take on the rapids. It directs paddlers to contact Kaukauna Utilities for release dates and directions on accessing the launch.
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kayakers can use 12 launches in the Fox Cities to access the water
