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Schuylkill River Greenways pitches public kayak launch on Villanova property to Whitemarsh supervisors
Summary
Schuylkill River Greenways asked the Whitemarsh Board of Supervisors to support a small public kayak launch on Villanova University property to close an almost eight-mile public-access gap on the Schuylkill River; organizers estimated $20,000–$30,000 for engineering and $160,000–$200,000 total, with grant funding expected.
At a Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors meeting (date not specified in the transcript), Schuylkill River Greenways presented plans for a small public kayak launch on a sliver of Villanova University’s boathouse property on Washington Street.
Elaine Schaefer, executive director of Schuylkill River Greenways, said the group’s goal is to provide safe, accessible public access to the Schuylkill River approximately every four miles and that the stretch between Bridgeport and Flat Rock represents the largest local gap in access, roughly eight miles. "This is one of the number-one priorities about getting public access to the river," Schaefer said.
Project manager Julia Hurle walked the board through a conceptual design that would create a separate public entrance from Washington Street, a small parking area of about 10–13 spaces (including at least one handicapped-accessible spot), a paved or concrete pathway and a concrete ramp designed to accommodate flooding and changing water levels. Hurle said the launch is intended for pedestrian watercraft such as kayaks and canoes and that bollards, gates or fencing could be added if security concerns arise.
Hurle said the land would need to be dedicated or covered by an easement or similar document to secure state and federal grants; that commitment is typically required for 25–30 years. She said Schuylkill River Greenways typically handles fundraising, design and permitting, then transfers ownership and routine maintenance responsibility to the municipality. "Year-to-year maintenance we would not be involved in," Hurle said, adding that SRG will try to assist after catastrophic events if funding can be found.
On costs, Hurle gave a planning estimate of about $20,000–$30,000 for engineering and roughly $160,000–$200,000 for the full project, and said the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has covered about 50% of similar landings. She cited a Bridgeport restoration after a hurricane that required roughly $15,000 to repair a damaged access drive; for small towns, she said routine upkeep has been ‘‘negligible.’’
Board members asked whether the 10–13 parking spaces would be dedicated to the public access; Hurle said they would and that the access would have a separate entrance. The board also asked how ownership or easements would work; Hurle said options include a memorandum of agreement and that an easement or similar public-access commitment is typically needed to pursue grants.
Schuylkill River Greenways closed by reiterating that the site is a high state priority and expressing confidence that grant funding will be available for construction and for emergency repairs if needed. The board thanked the presenters; no vote or formal action on the kayak-launch plan was taken that evening.
