Tag Archives: public docks

Kayaking, Parks and Recreation, Uncategorized

6 Family Friendly Activities to Do Around Morse Reservoir

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We’re starting to see the weather warm up around central Indiana! The ice and snow has melted, and now people are looking for activities they can do to help keep their family entertained while we still deal with the effects of coronavirus. Fortunately, a family won’t have to go far to find fun on the water! Located in Cicero, Indiana, Morse Reservoir offers several fun things that will leave you with a fantastic time on the water. Today, we’ll look at a few ideas to get your family out on the water!

6 Morse Reservoir Family Friendly Activities

1. Visit the Beach

We couldn’t start a blog about Morse Reservoir without mentioning Morse Park and Beach. Located on the border of Cicero, this small 20 acre park offers many activities to fulfill a fun day. There’s a playground, disc golf course, and a small beach! Get away from the stress of the world and relax on the warm sand. Morse Beach is the only spot designated for swimming on the reservoir.

2. Go Kayaking

Kayakers will love Morse. It is the only body of water in Central Indiana with an EZ Dock Kayak Launch. Located in Red Bridge Park in Cicero, the launch allows for kayak or small canoe owners to safely launch into the lake without accidentally slipping into the water. There’s no cost to use the launch, so don’t be too intimidated to get out on the water and go paddling!

3. Fish Like A Pro

Morse Reservoir offers many great spots to go fishing. The best spot to cast a line, is located right next to the Kayak Launch! Right next to the launch in Red Bridge Park is a large fishing pier. There is plenty of room for several people on the pier, so overcrowding shouldn’t be a problem.

4. Have A Lakeside Meal

There are several good restaurants located on Morse that will give you a beautiful view while you eat. The two that we’ll highlight today are Wolfies, and the Boathouse. Wolfies is located right next to the Morse Public Launch Ramp, and offers tons of great food options that are priced decently. The Boathouse allows for boaters to dock right at the restaurant! So if you’re out in the boat for a cruise, stop by and eat some delicious food.

5. Go Hiking on a Trail

Located just 10 minutes east of Morse, Strawtown’s Koteewi Park offers several activities for family fun. Among these activities includes their beautiful nature trail. Using an EZ Trail system, the nature trail allows hikers to enjoy the parks scenic prairies and wetlands.

6.  Have Fun Horseback Riding

Also located in Koteewi Park is an equestrian trail for riding horses. No experience is needed because the park offers guided tours! Riding on a horse is a sure way to create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Morse Reservoir is a great lake to keep the family entertained. So plan your trip, and make sure you make the most of your visit!

If you’re a homeowner in Morse and need service on your dock, boat lift, or seawall feel free to give Deaton’s Waterfront Services a call at 317-747-4933! Our team will send an expert out to give you a free estimate and come up with a solution that perfectly fits your needs.

 

Parks and Recreation

Fun Things to Do at Strawtown’s Koteewi Park

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There are many great parks and lakes located in the Midwest to experience a fun day on the water. You don’t have to travel far or own a dock to be able to experience the joys and activities that are had on the water.  While many experienced water enthusiasts know exactly where to go to get on the water, there are many people that are uninformed about the lakes in their community. Today we are going to be looking at a park located in Central Indiana, Strawtown’s Koteewi Park.

About Koteewi Park

Koteewi Park is located in Strawtown, just outside of Noblesville in Hamilton County, Indiana. The park is located off State Road 37 and Strawtown Avenue. There are many activities and amenities to experience while at the park including: archery, horse riding, sky trails, snow tubes, and a natural history center. For more information about the park and all the activities offered, check out their website here for directions and park info. The park also offers several waterfront activities, which we’ll look at next.

How to Experience Fun on the Water at Koteewi Park

There are a few different ways to experience the water at Koteewi Park. They offer (3) different styles of EZ Dock products. There’s an EZ Trail, a boat dock, and an EZ Kayak Launch. This allows someone wanting to experience fun on the water the chance to do so at little to no cost. The park allows users to fish, launch their boat, and even explore a trail across a natural wetland. For anyone wanting to experience a relaxing, low-cost day on the water, this is a great place to be!

Finding a spot to get out on the water isn’t always easy. Most travel blogs just want to give out basic information, and not let everyone know the truly great areas that have beautiful lakes and ponds to visit. Fortunately, we here at Deaton’s Waterfront Service are here to pay it forward! We want to get as many people out on the water and forgetting about the stresses of life as possible. If you’re interested in creating a new dock to experience the waterfront, feel free to reach out to us or give us a call at (317) 747-4933.

Commercial Docks, Dock Design

Planning ADA Fishing Piers with Your Dock Builder

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When you’re in charge of a public dock, you want to make sure that visitors can enjoy their favorite waterfront activities in a safe and convenient way. That’s why the Accessibility Guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are so important. An ADA-compliant fishing pier gives everyone the chance to reel in a big catch!

ADA Checklist for Your Public Fishing Pier

Incorporating some practical features with your fishing pier design helps sites stay compliant with the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). A good place to start is with an accessible route to the fishing pier or platform entrance. It’s not enough to have ramps for the fishing area itself. Visitors must first be able to reach the site. This is the first item on the ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities. From there, you can begin to assess some of your other features, including:

  • Gangway Slope and Length
  • Transition Plates/Ramp Landings
  • Handrails and Railings
  • Clear Floor Space
  • Edge Protection

If you don’t know what to watch for, following the guidelines can sometimes seem daunting. But when you’re working with an experienced team of dock builders, you’ll be able to include all of the ADA fishing pier features with a seamless design. You don’t have to figure out the details all on your own.

For example, dock builders can help confirm that the gangway slope is no more than 1:12. Or, they can work with you to redesign the route for a longer length. They can also help you add a transition plate and a landing, as needed, to make your fishing pier’s ramps more accessible. Paying attention to floating platform or pier movement from wind and waves is another key part of an ADA-compliant site, as this can affect the slope. You’ll also need to make sure you’re providing plenty of fishing opportunities with lowered railings. All of these details should be factored in to your overall design.

Fishing Pier ADA Guidelines for Railing Dispersion

The easiest thing to notice on an ADA-compliant fishing pier is probably the guards. The railings should include sections of a 34” maximum height to give easy fishing access to individuals in wheelchairs. We all want to have the right railings for casting our line, so you’ll need to measure appropriately.

When you look around your fishing pier, at least 25 percent of the handrails and guards in the fishing area need to be below that 34” height. To give enough variety for fishing, these sections should also be dispersed throughout the pier or platform. Different locations can offer varying water depth, shade, and vegetation. Some might be closer to the shoreline, and others could be farther away. That way, there will be lots of fishing choices for each visitor.

Public dock managers should also look at the clear space near these sections. There should be at least one maneuvering space of 30” by 48” inches for wheelchairs to easily turn around. That, plus a 2” curb or barrier will help keep these areas compliant. It takes a lot of measuring, but again, the right dock builders can work with you to get the job done.

Existing Dock Alterations vs. New Dock Builds

Your public fishing pier should be a safe and welcoming environment for people of all abilities. Knowing how to follow the ADAAG can help your community thrive. Whether you’re ready to upgrade your existing facility with an ADA fishing pier or platform, or you’re looking to build a ADA-compliant waterfront feature from the ground up, it always helps to have experience on your side.

Our crew at Deaton’s Waterfront Services is passionate about building docks and fishing piers that are up to code for all types of public waterfront sites. If you aren’t sure where to begin, feel free to give us a call at (317) 747-4933. Our service area covers Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. We’ve worked on a variety of ADAAG projects over the years, and we’d be happy to help you out too!

Commercial Docks, Dock Design

Accessibility and ADA-Compliant Docks at Public Waterfronts

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If you have a community boat dock near you and your neighbors, you want to make sure that everyone can enjoy it. Being able to spend time outdoors and around the water is part of life’s greatest pleasures . But if the public dock isn’t handicap accessible or ADA-compliant, you’re preventing citizens from fully utilizing the space. Getting a site that’s up-to-code and open to everyone makes a big difference in building a vibrant, healthy, and engaged community.

Waterfronts on state property and other local public sites need to be regularly reviewed to ensure that they’re not only safe for guests, but that they are accessible for people of varying ability levels. Easy mobility on boat docks and fishing docks helps make these spaces welcome to anyone who wants to use them.

Guidelines for Recreational Facility Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) works to protect the rights of individuals, no matter what their physical abilities might be. The law helps ensure that everyone can have safe, convenient access to local government and state facilities, including our treasured parks and recreational areas. Boating facilities, as well as fishing piers and platforms, must accommodate people with disabilities. Both fixed and floating structures need to comply with the ADA standards.

In 2002, the Access Board issued some helpful guidelines for new boating facilities and other remodels. Outlining the minimum requirements for these sites helps public docks improve their accessible features. These resources make it easier to create wheelchair-accessible routes for fishing docks and other boating activities. Of course, it’s always best to work with a seasoned waterfront specialist when drafting your designs. The right team of dock experts will help ensure that any new builds or remodels are ADA-compliant.

No matter the size of the recreational facility, certain accessibility features will need to be in place. Large marinas and piers, and even small public campgrounds with just one or two boat slips must meet these requirements. By addressing the usability at sites of all shapes and sizes, the public can have a great time around the water—no matter where they are.

Accessible Dock & Waterfront Solutions

Fortunately, making public docks accessible isn’t that big of a mystery. There are plenty of waterfront products available that can streamline the process. ADA-compliant features make fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation fun for everyone! Including some of the best accessible dock solutions into your site is a great way to help your community stay safe on the water.

Public Fishing Docks

Building an accessible fishing dock is often a top priority for commercial and public waterfronts. Since fishing is such a popular hobby, it would be a shame to limit anyone’s access to the lake or pond! A simple public fishing dock will let park visitors get a great catch. We prefer building with EZ Dock because it’s easy to upgrade commercial dock setups. When necessary, you can even add a floating walkway with guardrails to expand visitor access.

Public Kayak Launches

For a really convenient canoe and kayak launch experience, you can’t go wrong with the latest EZ Launch Accessible Transfer System. These models make it easier than ever for small boating enthusiasts to enter and exit their watercraft. The transfer bench is made with two different heights to accommodate varying wheelchair sizes, and the entire system exceeds the minimum requirements of the ADA standards.

Community Boat Docks

If your setup requires multiple boat slips, ramps, and access points, you can still count on EZ Dock. We’ve utilized their modular system to build floating docks in communities all across the Midwest. Because you can easily expand your design with EZ Dock, there’s always the option to add new elements for a better overall experience. Making sure you have the proper ADA-compliant railings and curbing for safe, accessible ramps streamlines these designs.

Ready to Improve Your Public Dock?

If you need help making your local or state property compliant and accessible, call on the dock experts. At Deaton’s Waterfront Services, we’re proud to work with municipalities and commercial docks of all shapes and sizes. We have completed multiple waterfront projects for state properties and public lakes throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Getting your waterfront accessible and ADA-compliant is easy when you work with a professional team. To get started, simple contact Deaton’s Waterfront Services to schedule an on-site visit or request a quote. We would be honored to work with you!