ADA-compliant kayak dock installed at Grand Marais Recreation Park boat landing

On the morning of May 9, the Grand Marais Recreation Park staff finished installing the new BoardSafe adaptive kayak dock in the Grand Marais harbor.  

The adaptive kayak dock is one of the final components that the City of Grand Marais included within the Parkside Public Access Plan for the recreation park. 

Dave Tersteeg, the recreation parks manager, said the ADA-compliant adaptive kayak dock is a safe and specialized piece of equipment for paddlers, particularly those in wheelchairs and with disabilities, to access the harbor. 

The new dock has an aluminum gangway adjacent to the kayak slide, which will allow paddlers to ease their kayaks down the slide while traveling along the gangway. There are 36-inch handrails along the perimeter and additional ADA-compliant components. 

“It’s a one-of-a-kind piece of access to Lake Superior, and this is a large part thanks to the (Minnesota) DNR,” Tersteeg said. “It’s really nice!”

Photos from Tersteeg of the new BoardSafe adaptive kayak dock are below:

WTIP spoke with Dave Tersteeg, the recreation parks manager, about the new adaptive kayak dock and for a full recreation park update as the busy summer season nears. 

Kalli Hawkins May 9, 2024