RAM floating dock construction has begun

[Dog Walker]

Since that lot is leased to Fidelity Financial to use as parking during the week, where would kayak paddlers park during the week?

Maybe it's only going to open Saturdays and Sundays.

[RiversideLoki]

Riding by on New Years Eve, I wondered the same thing. AFAIK the closest next parking are the garages (which are private) and the Red Cross (which is private). I suppose one could park off street around the corner and lug their kayak, but that's not really what I call "fun". Crossing Riverside Ave empty handed is dangerous as is on non-RAM days.

[dougskiles]

I assume that most of the use would be on the weekend or holidays.  And it might not be as much of a launching point as it would be a destination for kayakers to access the riverwalk.  The presentation to JEDC states:

In addition, the proposed dock project is consistent with the Downtown Action Plan Initiative #4 (Create a Riverwalk Enhancement Plan) and Initiative #19 (Create More Marine-Themed Activities and Improve Marine Linkages).  A key component of Initiative #4 is to develop great access to the Northbank Riverfront Park from the water, which this project does.  Initiative #4 is all about enhancing the Northbank Riverfront Park and Southbank Riverwalk to be easily accessible, provide a diverse and high quality setting for residential, entertainment, cultural and recreational experiences.

But the gate may remain locked except during RAM hours of operation.  I am doing some research on this.  If anyone knows more about it, please chime in.

[Ocklawaha]

Well you could just imagine the attention River Oaks Park would get if it just had this much improvement.


Uh? Did someone just tell us Craig's Creek was too small? or was it too shallow? This is a photo of Juniper Springs Run in the Ocala National Forest.

This is how you float your boat, and it COULD BE Craig's Creek in Riveroaks Park...

Looking at the aerial and plat maps of Riveroaks Park, it looks like White Oak, Riverwood, Green Bay or West Cove Lanes might each offer a chance at access to an area where a small parking lot and turn-around could be built at the end of whichever road fit the need the best. THEN add some beach sand, and a drying or stacking rack, gazebo or roofed picnic pavilion, grill, and tiny beach on Craig's Creek and damn! What a sweet place it would be.

OCKLAWAHA

[north miami]

Smaller,compact waterways are enchanting.Resource managers are aware of their appeal even in the face of adjacent larger water bodies.

The photos of Juniper Run in this post depict the very most  upper and narrow reaches-it's about as tight as it gets-I have made this run in a too large 16' touring kayak and it still can be reasonably handled and a great joy.Juniper is yet another version of so many regional waterways that originate in such tight quarters and eventually open up.

[Dog Walker]

And the cost and impact of a sand beach and a couple of parking spots nearby has to so low that it is the best bang-for-the-buck project for water access that there is.  By contrast a boat launching ramp is very expensive and can have a bad impact on a neighborhood.

[dougskiles]

Nothing more than a floating dock with a lower section for stable entry & exit from the kayak:

http://www.kay-akcess.com/

[Ocklawaha]

We could probably establish a couple of parking spaces, trail, sand beach and maybe even a picnic pavillion for the cost of the floating dock.  Standard Kay-aKcess Launch: 8' x 12' floating dock with 8' x 36" launch platform is $3478 dollars with other Dock Sizes (larger) Available. Craig's Creek would be preferable but failing that or Fishweir one would have to use a floating type. BUT, Doug is right, there is really no safe way to launch from a damn seawall. Riverside Art Market and/or San Marco-South Jacksonville could put the floating launch to good use. Maybe the best location in town for such a thing would be Marco Lake on Largo Road... Again, a beach is better but this thing might work in the old rock quarry.


OCKLAWAHA

[north miami]

And why,one could ask,have we the River City not pursued the hand launched Blueways??

In a positive vein,it is because only fairly recently have these myriad small craft been developed.Their recent advent spurs their appreciation,user constituency and interest in accommodation.

[Ocklawaha]

Just found these in the history collection of the Jacksonville Public Library... These would be shots of the Oriental Gardens, which were in what is today Riveroaks Park, and Craig's Creek. I believe these are different then the ones we ran in the Oriental Gardens article. http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-oct-remembering-oriental-gardens

Just take this little creek and park, apply a cup of TLC, a pinch of development, and add a "Jensen" canoe to achieve Nirvana.












OCKLAWAHA

[Noone]

Nothing more than a floating dock with a lower section for stable entry & exit from the kayak:

http://www.kay-akcess.com/

Great post Doug. I contacted Susan and was telling her all about the potential of a kayak launch in Jacksonville somewhere. I told her that we have a mayor race and city council race in 3 months. Leadership will make it happen.

This should be one of the biggest city council issues in Dist. 14 and 5. It won't happen in Dist.4 or7 unless there is new leadership. Don't know about the other council districts yet. I mentioned to Susan about FIND Florida Inland Navigation District.

Its obvious-USE the RIVER
Vote for someone who will Make it Happen.
Keep score.

RAM could add this later.
I've emailed every councilmember about 2010-856. Be concerned for a true BLUEWAY to happen and everyone in Jacksonville to have the opportunity to access, promote, celebrate and preserve our St. Johns River our American Heritage River an amendment needs to be attached to 2010-856 that would exempt not only Downtown but the Waterways too.

[dougskiles]

I traded a few emails with Eric Lindstrom from JEDC:

Doug: Initially, the use of the dock will be tied to RAM and special events occurring under the Fuller Warren Bridge and the riverwalk. FDEP has prohibited access to it during non-event occurrences, which is a condition of the permit the City received from them on the docking facility. FDEP had serious concerns about impacts to the manatee and this is a condition we had to agree to to obtain authorization for the dock. I hope to relax these restrictions in the future when we can show the use doesn’t cause the concerns that are currently envisioned by them.

Eric then sent me a link to contact DEP and express concerns:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ps/default.htm#9

I sent them an email this morning and hope that many of you will also.

[north miami]

I traded a few emails with Eric Lindstrom from JEDC:

Doug: Initially, the use of the dock will be tied to RAM and special events occurring under the Fuller Warren Bridge and the riverwalk. FDEP has prohibited access to it during non-event occurrences, which is a condition of the permit the City received from them on the docking facility. FDEP had serious concerns about impacts to the manatee and this is a condition we had to agree to to obtain authorization for the dock. I hope to relax these restrictions in the future when we can show the use doesn’t cause the concerns that are currently envisioned by them.

I believe we may find that the science,manatee tracking studies could show a concentration at this sensitive "funnel" area.
Remember too another excellent source of information on this-Duval County Manatee expert and representative Quinton White/newly established Marine Lab.  --- Quinton White  qwhite@ju.com ---

****Yet again another giant cause for applauding the promotion and use of  low/no impact hand launched,hand propelled small craft.
Perhaps routine year round acceess to such facility limited to such craft.Try that one on for size.****

[dougskiles]

****Yet again another giant cause for applauding the promotion and use of  low/no impact hand launched,hand propelled small craft.
Perhaps routine year round acceess to such facility limited to such craft.Try that one on for size.****

I'll take it.  Boats with motors are just too noisy for me and they scare away all of the things I want to see when I'm out on the water.

It would be very simple to restrict power boat access to event periods and provide year-round access to hand launched vehicles by having the kayak launch close to the riverbank and then having the gate between the kayak launch and the boat dock.

[Ocklawaha]

This is the one-size-fits-all approach to how to lose friends and influence enemies...




This one at Twin Lakes in Central Oregon restricts even ELECTRIC boats! Weird.


I like this one at Melrose Lake, down in Alachua County, as it doesn't exclude sailboats of any size nor does it exclude a serious fisherman with a small craft, crab boat or other small lighter. Seems to me this sign only restricts various craft that can be abused by idiots.

Hell Noone, no rocker, bent shafts and lots of tumblehome.

OCKLAWAHA