Mobility concerns won’t get in the way of your kayaking experience at Carmody Park in Gardner as it’s now home to northeastern Wisconsin’s only handicap kayak launch. The kayak launch joins the Otumba Beach ADA-accessible beach mat and the wheelchair-accessible pier at Fish Creek Beach as 2021 summer projects that increased beach and water accessibility.
Door County Parks Manager Burke Pinney came to the Friends of the Door County Parks System in July to discuss the possibility of providing the final funding for the installation of the kayak launch. Board member of the friends group, Jay Renstrom, says there was minimal discussion before they were on board and donated the final $5,000. Renstrom says Pinney did all the legwork and grant-writing for two separate DNR grants. Renstrom would like to see the launch serve as an influence to other groups in Wisconsin.
The project cost was $39,000 which included the launch, quarry wash, and rain garden to meet previous surface requirements. Other funding came from the Raibrook Foundation, National Environmental Education Foundation, and the town of Gardner who donated $2,000.
