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| Stock photo via EZ Dock |
Says HH council
representative on the committee Jon Hurst of Acton: “The
mandate of the Halton Hills Accessibility Advisory Committee is to develop a
comprehensive accessibility plan for the municipality, which helps to identify
and remove barriers to people with disabilities. Following the public
discussions and advocacy for the kayak launch at the new Fairy Lake dock, the
Committee recognized the unique opportunity to provide additional activities
for disabled and elderly residents, who can now safely enter and exit a kayak
or canoe to experience the beauty of Fairy Lake and its shorelines.
“Following the presentation of the staff report
at our last meeting, the Committee was pleased to unanimously approve the
report and the requested kayak launch funding from our accessibility budget.”
Town of
HH architect Mark Taylor reports the town will work
towards having it installed by mid May. Town Community Development staff
will be planning an official opening for the dock - more info to follow.
Holy Cow Canoe co-owner and operator of the HC
Canoe Rental Outpost at the Lake, Naomi McQuade - long time advocate for Lyme
disease research and motive force behind the waterfront redesign especially
with adaptive component, is “elated” by confirmation that the launch feature
will go ahead.
The adaptive dock design, supplied by from EZ
Dock Canada, allows a small personal craft like kayak or canoe to remain stable
while a person gets in or out of a boat. At Fairy Lake, there will also be a
dock ladder and removable overhead grab rail for further ease of use.
Click here for a short video of how the
adaptive launch works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5b45CNEFgQ
The accessible boat launch at Fairy Lake will
be one of the few installed on a public waterfront in the area so far.
Bravo to all who wrote in and contributed to
the discussion. Your input made a difference.
Watch this space for further detail on the
official opening later this spring.
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