MONROE — The City of Monroe announced that a new kayak launch would open in summer 2025 in Hellenberg Park along the River Raisin.
The site was chosen because of its proximity to the river and access to Lake Erie and other areas of interest, such as the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Sterling State Park, and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
“We are appreciative of the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation who provided a $50,000 grant toward the purchase of the launch itself and the City is funding the site preparation and concrete work through the Capital Improvements Program,” said Mark Cochran, assistant city manager and economic and community development director at the City of Monroe.
The city hopes the site will encourage more community partners to incorporate the river into their programs while increasing general recreation for residents and tourists alike. Increased community traffic in the neighborhood would also boost opportunities for local businesses.
According to Cochran, the launch’s installation aligns with the city’s goal to “enhance public spaces for vibrant social and recreational activities.”
There will be no fees or permits required to use the launch and it is projected to be installed in spring 2025.
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Visitors can park at Hellenberg Park.
Prospective kayakers will need to bring their own equipment and aren’t permitted to keep the kayak at the launch.
Whether there will be any community events or programs once the launch opens is still to be determined.
— Contact reporter Connor Veenstra at CVeenstra@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Kayak launch comes to City of Monroe’s Hellenberg Park
Reporting by Connor Veenstra, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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