Ron Littlepage: Kayaking downtown? It can happen

[thelakelander]

Rachel Austin and Joe Crespi are enthusiastic young people.

It’s the kind of enthusiasm that rubs off when you listen to them talk.

Recently, they were going through a list of cities that National Geographic Magazine had named as top places for kayaking:

Chicago. Washington. Pittsburgh. Boston. New York City.

Their question: Why isn’t Jacksonville, with the magnificent St. Johns River running through the heart of downtown, on that list?

Austin and Crespi own First Coast Outfitters. Much of their business involves taking people â€" often corporate groups or visitors in town for conventions â€" kayaking in places like Fort George Island and Guana River State Park.

They are serious about adding another destination: downtown Jacksonville.

You can kayak downtown?

They say that’s the question they often are asked when they take a group kayaking downtown â€" to the Riverside Arts Market, for example, or to the Landing.

Their answer is yes. Watch the tides and the weather, and the St. Johns downtown makes for a good paddle, they say, and people enjoy getting a water-level view of downtown and then stopping off for a drink or a meal.

As I mentioned, these two are enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm pours out when they talk about the potential for kayaking downtown.

With work, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek â€" long neglected but opportunities waiting to be filled â€" could be great additions to a downtown kayaking trail.

Then there’s this one-of-a-kind opportunity: Exchange Club Island.

The 34-acre island is located under the Mathews Bridge. It is 2,400 feet long and 350 feet wide.

And here’s the kicker: The city already owns it.

The state gave the island to the city in 1956. It was to be developed into a park. That hasn’t happened.

Metro Jacksonville describes the island as an “uninhabited oasis of serenity in the heart of urban Jacksonville.”

For Austin and Crespi, the island â€" once again, with work to clean it up and to add facilities â€" would make another great stop on a downtown kayaking trail.

One of the hurdles that has to be overcome is establishing more places where kayaks can be launched downtown.

The two are meeting with clubs, government officials and anyone who will listen to share their ideas.

With all of the plans for downtown revitalization, one thing that can’t be overlooked is adding activities that will make people want to be downtown.

Kayaking has grown tremendously in the last decade. It’s not the only answer for helping downtown come alive, but it can be a part of it.

Austin and Crespi say they often pick up groups downtown and then take them to a distant destination to go kayaking.

Why not take them kayaking in the heart of downtown instead?

Listening to them, you believe it can happen.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-09-28/kayaking-downtown-it-can-happen


Views of Downtown from the St. Johns River, McCoys Creek, Hogans Creek and Exchange Island

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-oct-downtown-jacksonville-from-the-st-johns-river

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-urban-parks-exchange-club-island

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-oct-exposing-hogans-creek

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-downtowns-best-kept-secret-mccoys-creek

[CG7]

Read the comments from the TU readers, and you realize people are usually negative to things they don't understand. Kayaking downtown is like an out of body experience, you see things and go places that cannot be duplicated anywhere else (under the Hyatt etc). With a lot of work McCoy's and Hogan's Creek along with Exchange Club Island would make Downtown an awesome kayaking experience. And as long as Noone and the rest of us don't give up, it will happen, and hopefully soon.

[Garden guy]

I'd love to see a kayak outfitter at RAM...but of course the only days the dock can be used is on sat and sun...which is insane to me...i put in at one of the parks..sometimes just off the bulkhead..it can be done really easy...i do most of my paddling out at browns creek or sisters or ftgeorge...i do love paddling downtown and i'm so suprised more people havent caught onto it...i've thought about a kayak share program where several people share the same yak...i've got 4 yaks and usually 2 of them are being borrowed by a friend...some people can't afford them and others just don't have the space if  they live in the city in a small apartment. I love the idea of using our river..it is ours and it seems that the leaders and powers that be have always pushed actually using the river on the back burner...i watch the news and when they show the downtown shots....empty....maybe 2 boats...it's a shame and a loss of such a beautiful river.

[fieldafm]

With a lot of work McCoy's and Hogan's Creek along with Exchange Club Island would make Downtown an awesome kayaking experience. And as long as Noone and the rest of us don't give up, it will happen, and hopefully soon

+1.

First Coast Outfitters did a downtown kayaking tour last Saturday evening.  A portion of the proceeds went to the Riverkeeper.

We have been talking about some Exchange Club Island excursions. 

[Ralph W]

I guess Ron Littlepage doesn't read more of Metro Jax or he could have read all about the ongoing excursions of Noone and everyone he has guided through downtown kayaking.

[north miami]

Downtown McCoys Creek practically flows underneath Ron's desk!!
    ****See MJ Downtown forum;     Noone Hogans,McCoys,Fishweir Trifecta****
           
           
Good for Ron Littlepage.We need more people like him populating the earth.Be assured Ron is aware of Metro Jacksonville.

Downtown Jacksonville Waterways are unlike anything else.With the added benefit of lengthy boating season.

Kayaks have made broad general public access and enjoyment vastly expanded.

[tufsu1]

Littlepage got the inspiration for his piece from the article in this week's Folio Weekly

[Noone]

Rachel Austin and Joe Crespi are enthusiastic young people.

It’s the kind of enthusiasm that rubs off when you listen to them talk.

Recently, they were going through a list of cities that National Geographic Magazine had named as top places for kayaking:

Chicago. Washington. Pittsburgh. Boston. New York City.

Their question: Why isn’t Jacksonville, with the magnificent St. Johns River running through the heart of downtown, on that list?

Austin and Crespi own First Coast Outfitters. Much of their business involves taking people — often corporate groups or visitors in town for conventions — kayaking in places like Fort George Island and Guana River State Park.

They are serious about adding another destination: downtown Jacksonville.

You can kayak downtown?

They say that’s the question they often are asked when they take a group kayaking downtown — to the Riverside Arts Market, for example, or to the Landing.

Their answer is yes. Watch the tides and the weather, and the St. Johns downtown makes for a good paddle, they say, and people enjoy getting a water-level view of downtown and then stopping off for a drink or a meal.

As I mentioned, these two are enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm pours out when they talk about the potential for kayaking downtown.

With work, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek — long neglected but opportunities waiting to be filled — could be great additions to a downtown kayaking trail.

Then there’s this one-of-a-kind opportunity: Exchange Club Island.

The 34-acre island is located under the Mathews Bridge. It is 2,400 feet long and 350 feet wide.

And here’s the kicker: The city already owns it.

The state gave the island to the city in 1956. It was to be developed into a park. That hasn’t happened.

Metro Jacksonville describes the island as an “uninhabited oasis of serenity in the heart of urban Jacksonville.”

For Austin and Crespi, the island — once again, with work to clean it up and to add facilities — would make another great stop on a downtown kayaking trail.

One of the hurdles that has to be overcome is establishing more places where kayaks can be launched downtown.

The two are meeting with clubs, government officials and anyone who will listen to share their ideas.

With all of the plans for downtown revitalization, one thing that can’t be overlooked is adding activities that will make people want to be downtown.

Kayaking has grown tremendously in the last decade. It’s not the only answer for helping downtown come alive, but it can be a part of it.

Austin and Crespi say they often pick up groups downtown and then take them to a distant destination to go kayaking.

Why not take them kayaking in the heart of downtown instead?

Listening to them, you believe it can happen.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-09-28/kayaking-downtown-it-can-happen


Views of Downtown from the St. Johns River, McCoys Creek, Hogans Creek and Exchange Island

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-oct-downtown-jacksonville-from-the-st-johns-river

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-urban-parks-exchange-club-island

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-oct-exposing-hogans-creek

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-downtowns-best-kept-secret-mccoys-creek

Kayaking can be a Downtown Destination.

Kayaked with Mayor Alvin Brown on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative and I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

Littlepage when writing about Exchange Club Island noted that the state gave the island to the city in 1956. It was to be developed into a park. That hasn't happened.

The same can be said of the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier that was part of Shipyards/Landmar 2010-604. In less than 30 days it can still be added to the FIND list that has to be approved by city council. Its just a list. We own it. Use it as an access point Downtown.

Mayor Brown lets kayak Hogans Creek, McCoys Creek, and the Pier. Mayor Brown is Making It Happen.

[thelakelander]

Exchange Club Island was developed into a park.  The city eventually just stopped maintaining it.

[north miami]

Littlepage got the inspiration for his piece from the article in this week's Folio Weekly

Ron used to keep a power boat at Lambs Dry Store.
He eventually became a kayaker.

[north miami]

Note ready made access to McCoy creek:
Chelsea street dead ends at the creek shore.

Recent curious clearing activities have riveted attention,and recognition of ready to go access point.

[Noone]

Kayaking Downtown? It Khan Happen.

Spoke with Dave Roman the other day and shared with him yet another slam dunk just tee it up and knock the stew out of it Downtown Destination River Activity kayak launch that will be on the fast track in joining and making Mayor Alvin Brown's campaign promise of Downtown as a Destination and not a pass through.

City council Tues. Waterways Wend. The legislature. The administration, Governor Scott, are all becoming aware of how we Khan Make it Happen.