Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates Kayak Rentals At Lakes
June 8, 2022 at 1:51 a.m.
Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates Kayak Rentals At Lakes
By Jackie [email protected]
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday to celebrate the new feature.
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Superintendent Larry Plummer said in the department’s five-year master plan, one of the things the public requested was the use of the area lakes.
“And we feel with this kayak kiosk, that really is the first step to making that happen. We’ve got some more plans down the road to having more kiosks and other alternatives,” Plummer said.
A grant from the Kosciusko County Conventions, Recreation and Visitor Commission for $29,600 allowed the kiosks to happen, Plummer said. The kiosks were put in at Pike and Center lakes about a month ago, but they weren’t available to rent until about a week ago. Within those first seven days, there were 63 rentals.
Plummer said the kiosk project has been in the process for about a year with the Parks Department and it took some time to get the supplies for the kiosks.
Plummer said people get hope and excitement out of the whole experience.
“We’re just happy to have them and we just want everyone to have fun,” Plummer said.
He said the city was looking at the Toledo Metro Parks in Ohio where they did a trial run of the kayak kiosks and they had a “great success with it.” He was talking with Toledo Metro Parks and Plummer thought it would be a great idea to bring to Warsaw.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the kiosk is one of the projects at the lakes. Other projects include getting the Center Lake Pavillion remodeled and the creation of pickleball courts.
If someone is interested in renting a kayak, they can download the Rent.Fun app and the app gives instructions. Hours for rentals are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rentals are on an hourly basis for $15 an hour or $40 for four hours.
If someone decides not to return the kayak, Plummer said the person’s credit card information is on file and they do sign a waiver when renting the kayak. Plus, the Parks Department has cameras so the department can see who takes the kayaks. He said that problem hasn’t happened yet.
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday to celebrate the new feature.
Warsaw Parks and Recreation Superintendent Larry Plummer said in the department’s five-year master plan, one of the things the public requested was the use of the area lakes.
“And we feel with this kayak kiosk, that really is the first step to making that happen. We’ve got some more plans down the road to having more kiosks and other alternatives,” Plummer said.
A grant from the Kosciusko County Conventions, Recreation and Visitor Commission for $29,600 allowed the kiosks to happen, Plummer said. The kiosks were put in at Pike and Center lakes about a month ago, but they weren’t available to rent until about a week ago. Within those first seven days, there were 63 rentals.
Plummer said the kiosk project has been in the process for about a year with the Parks Department and it took some time to get the supplies for the kiosks.
Plummer said people get hope and excitement out of the whole experience.
“We’re just happy to have them and we just want everyone to have fun,” Plummer said.
He said the city was looking at the Toledo Metro Parks in Ohio where they did a trial run of the kayak kiosks and they had a “great success with it.” He was talking with Toledo Metro Parks and Plummer thought it would be a great idea to bring to Warsaw.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the kiosk is one of the projects at the lakes. Other projects include getting the Center Lake Pavillion remodeled and the creation of pickleball courts.
If someone is interested in renting a kayak, they can download the Rent.Fun app and the app gives instructions. Hours for rentals are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rentals are on an hourly basis for $15 an hour or $40 for four hours.
If someone decides not to return the kayak, Plummer said the person’s credit card information is on file and they do sign a waiver when renting the kayak. Plus, the Parks Department has cameras so the department can see who takes the kayaks. He said that problem hasn’t happened yet.
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