New launch sites in Jax....

AllWet · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 5:59 pm

Hey guys just met with the mayors Senior Advisor. The city has some good stuff in the works for all kayakers. Right now there are 9 new kayak launches ready for us to try out.
Starting on the West Side:
1. Curtis Lee Johnson Marina Park 5434 San Juan Ave.
2. Seminole Park 4170 McGirts Blvd.
Southside dirctly across from Downtown:
3. Bee Street Park, Bee st. and Utah Ave. This one is a little stream that is next to the old South Side JEA property.
East Downtown:
4. Catherine St. Park, at the end of Catherine street.
Northside:
5. Charles Reese Memorial Park, 1200 Ken Knight Drive
Way North:
6. Thomas Creek Preserve, 17198 Ethel Rd.
Fort Caroline:
7. Fulton Rd. Landing, 5099 Fulton Rd.
Off Heckscher:
8. New Berlin, 9002 Frederick St.
9. Haulover Creek, 10980 Heckscher Drive

Don't expect much... a dirt patch and some water.... but axcess is hard to come by and welcomed when we can get it! Tides might be a factor at some of these lauches.
Go out and let us know what you think!

pswinz · **Posted:** Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:45 pm

Thanks so much for sharing these spots! I might hit the first one you listed on the west side this Friday.

woodonwater · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:12 am

Thanks Andy,

Isn't #1 the lighthouse Marina? Maybe the reference is for their old ramp by the baitshop.

Thomas Creek is a gem! Secluded, newly renovated ramp with facilities, shade, tables, docks and plenty of room for kids to run. Freshwater species here.

Bee St. is exciting, that creek always holds bait and the old discharge from the SS generating station might still attract tarpon?

Only negative input I have is for 5. Charles Reese Memorial Park. This place is bad. Really, I don't know how it got to this list. The park is long forgotten and blighted. We love these urban waterways and the Ribault is one of our favorites but this old park is an embarrassment. I tend to close my eyes and think of something pleasant when I go by. Folks, don't leave a vehicle here. Farther downstream there are three other launches: Harborview - hard ramp w/shelter and facilities (newly remodeled), Stokes Park - oldie but goodie, and the Ribault River Preserve on the east shore by the cemetery has a floating dock.

steve · **Joined:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:39 pm **Posts:** 83

I haven't been out to Fulton Rd. or Haulover recently. Have they done something to improve these places and call them new now? I thought they have been available for years. I remember going to Fulton 20 years ago and wade fishing under the docks.

AllWet · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:58 am

Thomas Creek .... from the satellite view looks very intriguing! A bit out of the way.... just North of the Duval County Detention Center or P Farm.
Bee Street..... easy axcess to the River Downtown.... be careful looks tidal..... as in at low tide you might not make it through. I think to officially open it to kayakers they simply installed a sign with a kayak picture on it! Limited parking here as well.
As to the other sites .... it might of been the same thing...simply erecting a Kayaker picture sign to make it official.

Roc327 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:29 am **Posts:** 74

The first one has always been there I use it often, it is the San Juan boat ramp there is an old ramp in the back all they added was a sign. But hey I guess that helps it stay there, I always used it so I stay out of the boaters way (and them out of mine lol)

I will be checking out the one on McGirts Blvd though

Dreads0518 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:50 pm

Most of the places listed on the northside, they just placed a sign there to make it "official".
No improvements have been made.

As far as #5. Charles Reese Memorial Park, 1200 Ken Knight Drive. I live not to far from there and I wouldnt go over there if you paid me. Not a good area to leave your vehicle, altho the police come over there quite often........

KayakMike · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:32 pm

Many of these are existing launches the city is putting signs on, that's all.

WoodyHuband · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:14 am **Posts:** 857

If I was standing at a boat ramp, how would I know it was a boat ramp without a sign?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLm3HMG8IhM

islandspeed2001 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:28 pm

WoodyHuband wrote:

If I was standing at a boat ramp, how would I know it was a boat ramp without a sign?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLm3HMG8IhM

You would be required to call the Mayor's office :smoke:

RLend · **Joined:** Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1127

Politics in motion......no real news here.

KayakMike · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:28 pm

Exactly Politics not Substance - I actually showed them many of these sites and several others like Greenfield, JTB, and others where they could actually reclaim or open up access to waters where we have none but so far they don't seem to really be capable of going beyond putting up signs and claiming that now these 'existing' accesses are 'new'. Definitely political until I see something real.

Their performance at the Oak Harbor ramp has turned me quite skeptical of this administration and the parks/rec dept.

The only 'new' access we see on the horizon is possible early morning access at Dutton and Atlantic Beach building a new launch on the north side of Dutton Island - however that launch doesn't really get you anywhere the existing one or Oak Harbor can't get you.

Maybe we should just cheer that they haven't shut down any existing access?

Roc327 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:29 am **Posts:** 74

KayakMike wrote:

Maybe we should just cheer that they haven't shut down any existing access?

New launch sites in Jax....

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