Keizer Receives National Boating Access Recognition For Keizer Rapids Boat Ramp
(KEIZER, Ore. ) — The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) presented the City of Keizer a Mid-Size Access Award for the new Keizer Rapids Boating Facility on the Willamette River during their annual conference held in Arkansas during the week of October 13.
Only one such award is given each year.
The national award was formally presented to the City of Keizer's Mayor, Lore Christopher, during their monthly City Council meeting by Janine Belleque, the Oregon State Marine Board's interim Boating Facilities Manager.
Planning for this mid-sized boating access site began in 2003 and within that timeframe, many partnerships were established to work through the different challenges associated with the project.
More than 50 individuals from city, state and federal levels, collaborated to complete property acquisitions, obtain environmental construction permits, complete design and engineering, bidding, construction and obtain funding for the Keizer Rapids boating facility.
The City of Keizer's Community Development Director, Nate Brown, was instrumental in keeping everyone moving forward and responding to the challenges of completing the City's first improved boating facility.
The total cost for the project was $1,322,379, with $728,296 provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife utilizing federal Sport Fish Restoration Funds from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, $221,356 in state boater funds, and $372,727 from the City of Keizer.
Federal funds are derived from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels taxes.
from Janine Belleque, Marine Board's Interim Boating Facilities Manager
The Keizer Rapids recreational boating facility amenities include:
- Property acquisition;
- 1,900- feet of paved access road;
- paved and curbed parking lot for 16 single car spaces and 23 vehicle/boat trailer spaces, landscaped islands, sidewalks and signage;
- 261-feet for a single-lane concrete boat ramp;
- 200-foot long boarding floats supported by five steel piles;
- Single stall vault toilet;
- Two vegetated stormwater treatment bio-swales;
- Bank stabilization, boat ramp protection and large woody debris habitat enhancement;
Vegetated earthen berm to create a noise buffer and visual barrier for adjacent neighbors.
The Keizer Rapids recreational boating facility provides public access to a 12.5 mile area of the Willamette River and is a designated stop on the Willamette River Water trail.
SOBA recognizes outstanding achievements in recreational boating access at the annual National Boating Access Conference.
The City of Keizer deserved this national recognition for their vision, collaboration and master planning of Keizer Rapids Park that will benefit recreational boaters for decades to come.
The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) presented the City of Keizer a Mid-Size Access Award for the new Keizer Rapids Boating Facility on the Willamette River during their annual conference held in Arkansas during the week of October 13.
Only one such award is given each year.
