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T-L?Photo/MIKE PALMER
WORK?HAS?begun on the boat ramp at Tappan Lake as park officials and staff gear up for the spring, as well as the lake’s 50th anniversary.
TAPPAN LAKE - Although the snow may still be blowing, Tappan Lake is looking forward to the warmer days of summer as work begins on a boat ramp and plans are made for celebrating its park's 50th anniversary.
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is upgrading the primary boat launch ramp on the lake while plans are currently underway for the park to celebrate a half-century of existence.
The ramp located just off U.S. 250 just east of the dam at Tappan Lake is currently closed while major upgrades are completed in time for the 2010 boating season.
The project is being funded through a $400,000 grant received by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Watercraft.
According to Scott Barnhart, MWCD's chief of recreation, the funding will be used for numerous improvements at the ramp. Portions of the existing boat ramp will be replaced, a new and relocated restroom will be constructed, handicap-accessible courtesy docks will be installed at the ramp, parking will be expanded, lighting will be improved and other improvements will be made in the parking lot.
Barnhart said that much of the work will be conducted during the winter when boating traffic is limited. Boaters who do plan to launch their boats can still use the ramps located across from Tappan Marina and the campground boat launch ramp inside Tappan Lake Park.
He said the public provide outstanding input concerning the types of improvements they preferred in the project.
"All of the work at the ramp is expected to be completed by the spring. An announcement about the reopening of the ramp will be made, Barnhart said."
The grant is part of the Division of Watercraft's Cooperative Boating Access Facility Program to improve public boating access.
All public boat launch ramps at the MWCD lakes are free for visitors.
Tappan Lake Park is celebrating a half-century of providing a fun family-based recreational environment to visitors.
The anniversary will be marked on Memorial Day.
The park held its original grand opening on May 30, 1960 after a plan of recreation was adopted by the district.
Today, the park has grown to include over 500 campsites and 10 family vacation cabins and is used year-round by families and, especially during the colder months, by hunters.
Various activities are available throughout the summer months with a special celebration being planned to kick-off the camping season which traditionally begins on Memorial Day weekend. Additional information will be released at a later date.
For more details about Tappan Lake and the MWCD, visit
www.mwcd.org.
. Oh yeah, and I've been draggin my feet with the title and reg on the 21... guess I should bite the bullet and pay some $ to be able to play this year.
. Then again, that's not a bad thing
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