Sometimes the toughest part of any major project is all the waiting that takes place. For Hagar Township residents and visitors, a major chunk of the wait is over, and now work can begin in earnest on a new kayak launch and park for the community.
After nearly 3 years of a comprehensive process, Hagar Township Supervisor Izzy DiMaggio, has announced that the project to develop a Park and Kayak Launch on the Paw Paw River has just received final approvals and can now proceed to the construction phase. The project, located in Hagar Township of northern Berrien County, will involve two levels. The upper level will include a picnic pavilion, picnic tables, cooking grills, vault restrooms, asphalt paved ingress and egress off of Coloma Road with lockable gates, paved parking, overhead lighting and all ADA compliance for all amenities.
The lower level will feature an asphalt paved driveway, with a lockable gate at the top, which will lead down to a driveway loop with parking, installation of an 85-foot elevated boardwalk over the wetland, leading to a floating dock and a floating kayak launch on the Paw Paw River, with overhead, security lighting. The paved roadway, parking, and kayak dock and launch are all ADA compliant.
The site is actually a former landfill off of Coloma Road, just east of exit 4, at I-196. The site had been designated as a conservation district, owned by Hagar Township, and is comprised of 112 acres with approximately 7 acres being used for this project.
DiMaggio says, “This Kayak Launch will be a destination for paddlers from the Watervliet-Coloma area and should provide an increase in tourism and revenue for merchants of the Hagar Township area.” He adds, “The project should be completed by early fall.”
The project actually began in June of 2016 with the Riverside Downtown Development Authority (DDA) requesting proposals from local engineering consultants. Abonmarche Consultants of Benton Harbor was the low bid and was awarded the contract to apply for grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and if successful, administer the project.
A $300,000 grant, the largest amount possible for a development project and the largest ever awarded to Hagar Township was eventually approved by the DNR, and total project costs, including construction, permitting approvals, site plans, inspections, and financial management will run approximately $500,000. The balance of the costs will be provided by the Riverside DDA.
DiMaggio says no township general funds will be used for the development and completion of the project. In a prime example of local collaboration and cooperation, more than 20 local governments, private businesses, community leaders and elected officials provided resolutions of support which positively enhanced the scoring, and approval of the township’s grant application.
DiMaggio is expressing his sincere appreciation on several fronts, including:
- To the Hagar Township Board for Resolutions of Support to apply for the grant and approve the bid for the project
- To the Hagar Township Planning Commission for a Special Use Permit
- To Abonmarche Consultants, which prepared the applications and received the permit approvals from the DNR, DEQ, and Berrien County Drain Office
- To the Board of the Riverside DDA who initiated the project and provided the local match. Without the DDA, the project would never have proceeded to launch construction.
Stay tuned for the official opening projected for this fall.
