Page 56 - Shelby County Ohio Discover 2023

The Great Miami River that originates in in in in in in in Shelby County is is becoming a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a highly utilized source of recreation along along its its 99-mile stretch from Sidney to to Hamilton Recreation on on on on on the river by by canoeists and and kayakers has been increasing every year as as as as well as as as as bicycling and hiking along along its its banks PLAY
Kayak Excursions
Efforts are underway to to to link the the river usage with the the shops and restaurants of downtown Sidney to to to to to attract more visitors to to to to to to to the the the area area Extending bike lanes from the the the river trail to to to to to downtown areas and publicizing the the the the the proximity to to to to to the the the river are are part of the the the Riverfront Development Strategy laid out in 2020 Besides the the the river Shelby County is is also home to Fort Loramie Loramie State Park which is is built around the the the the other significant waterway in in the the the county - - Lake Loramie Loramie a a a a a a a a a a a a a 913- acre lake offering plenty o of water water fun Lake Loramie was originally constructed in in 1824 as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reservoir for the Miami & Erie Canal The lake and surrounding area became Lake Loramie State Park in in in 1949 A favorite destination for locals as as well as as visitors the family campground offers a a a a a a a a a a a a a variety o of camping sites and cabins for overnight stays Popular activities around the the lake include fishing picnicking and and and swimming at at the the the sandy beach Boating is is is popular and and and there is is is no limit on on on horsepower except for one one small speed zone at at at the the the the west end the the the the lake is is designated as as “no wake” so most craft found on on on on the the the water are canoes pontoons paddle boats or or kayaks The lake has six launch ramps 91 docks and 54 tie-ups available for lease Boating and kayaking are fun fun activities but making that fun fun accessible for for all is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a special priority for for Leon Mertz Lake Loramie Improvement Association President In 2019 Mertz and his wife Susan began the Adaptive Launch Project an an an an effort to to provide a a a a a a a a a a way ffor for disabled persons to to enjoy the lake “My motto is that we never know what’s going to to to happen to to to us ” said Mertz “We could have an an an an accident a a a a a a a a a a a a a stroke or another health issue that changes everything in in in an an an an an an an instant But we would still want to go out and have fun like everyone else ” Mertz found a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a company called BoardSafe in Pennsylvania that builds adaptive docks kayaks canoes and boat launches so people in wheelchairs or or those with disabilities can more easily enter and exit a a a a a a a a a a a a a boat The launches are designed with the input of adaptive athletes using best practices in in in in in in dock and marina engineering The ADA-inspired features of the launch include an an an aluminum gangway handrails floatation stabilization and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a roll cage offering several gripping options Ken Ryno Adaptive Product Specialist for for BoardSafe has been the the guiding consultant for for the Lake Loramie project The Adaptive Kayak Launch is located between the the campgrounds and and the the beach area accessible to adaptive restroom facilities paved parking and and walkways Funding for the the project came from from private donations from from the the the the local community word-of-mouth and a a a a a a a a a a a Facebook campaign Once the the the the project was underway the the the the Ohio Department of Natural Resources supplemented the the the efforts with a a a a a $10 000 donation “We have also outfitted a a a a a a a a a a a pontoon boat so so that it it can accommodate a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a powered wheelchair ” said Mertz “Because the chairs are are really heavy we we we are are limited to one per per ride ride so so we we do it it it it by appointment only but it it it it provides an opportunity for someone to experience a a a a a fun ride ride around the lake ” Success of the the the lake project has spurred the the the Mertz’s
to increase accessibility throughout the the the state park They have already installed an an an adaptive adaptive swing for the the playground and adaptive adaptive picnic tables that can accommodate wheelchairs On the the wish list is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a completely accessible cabin matting to to allow for aquatic wheelchairs to to to access access access the the swimming area and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a concrete drive for for emergency access access to to the the beach for for an an an ambulance