The Raccoon River Park Boathouse opened recently in West Des Moines and it offers paddle boards, canoes and kayaks for rent. | Pixabay
The Raccoon River Park Boathouse opened recently in West Des Moines and it offers paddle boards, canoes and kayaks for rent. | Pixabay
The Raccoon River Park Boathouse opened at noon on July 23, providing boaters effortless land and water access to Blue Heron Lake.
The boathouse started construction in the fall of 2019 and is the first of five projects to be completed. The project was funded from the Local Option Sales and Services Tax and a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, according to the City of West Des Moines. CanoeSport Outfitters was chosen to be the Boathouse Concessionaire after a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
The boathouse will make exploration of water areas possible for visitors who don't own a boat.
“We want everyone to have a chance to experience the beauty of Blue Heron Lake whether they own a boat or not,” said Sally Ortigies, director of parks and recreation.
Stand-up paddle boards, canoes and kayaks are just a few of the non-motorized boat rentals that guests can take advantage of. There are no reservations required and all rentals are on a first-come, first-serve basis with fees starting at $10. Pets are welcome to tag along and dog owners are responsible for any cleanup or damage that may be caused. For more information, visit wdm.iowa.gov/boathouse.
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