Boat ramp construction under way

Tag : boat trailer part
There’s hardly a day that goes by when there isn’t afisherman or a boat trailer parked at the North Fork River inEllsworth Park.

The popularity of the river system — which connects thecity’s Ellsworth Park, state’s Kickapoo State Park andcounty’s Kennekuk County Park by water — and theconstruction of the safer, dependable and handicapped-accessibleboat ramp at Ellsworth Park made the project worthwhile to pursue,Danville Parks Superintendent Steve Lane said.

Work started this week on the new concrete boat ramp and fishingplatform to install a railing around it. There also will be a newsidewalk between the ramp and a new asphalt parking area.

George Shoudel, superintendent of Duce Construction Co. ofChampaign, said the work should take about a month and a half.

About six employees are working on the project, partly in swimtrunks. During those times, one worker remains dry on land andholds everyone’s cell phones.

Despite having a cofferdam to displace water during the work, thewater had risen a foot and half in a day or two due to the rainthis week, Shoudel said.

Duce planned to start construction right after July 4, but therewas a hold up in materials.

The city approved the $159,820 contract in March with Duce for theboat ramp improvements.

Funding comes from a $153,000 state grant and $6,000 from thecity’s capital improvement fund due to the higher thanexpected bid.

The city also is providing a $24,000 funding match in the form ofcity staff labor.

This work will involve night lighting, landscaping, siterestoration and additional shoreline stabilization.

All the work should be completed by this fall.

The project was more than the city’s budget, but cityengineer David Schnelle didn’t think the city could getbetter prices.

The single boat ramp and fishing platform will behandicapped-accessible. Adding to the costs was a railing to meetdisability requirements, Schnelle has said.

If the city would not proceed with the project, there likely wouldbe legal ramifications due to the state funding.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources approved thecity’s request two years ago for a $159,000 grant for the newconcrete boat ramp.

Lane said there were delays in gaining state environmentalprotection agency approvals and going through the entire reviewprocess for the new ramp. The new boat ramp was designed asadaptable if the dam is removed.

The concrete boat ramp is being installed at the same location inthe southwest portion of the park on a bend of the river.

The concrete fishing and river viewing area will be adjacent to theramp. The grant also is funding rip-rap erosion control.

Lane added that the permanent concrete ramp will not require asmuch maintenance. Heavy rains and flooding would wash gravel awayat the previous ramp, which was largely used for small fishingboats and canoe access.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said the boat ramp project is part of thecity’s five-year parks plans.

“A boat ramp has long been identified as a need,” hesaid.