Article published September 09, 2004
Local boating: Toledo boaters not a priority for funding
By SHIRLEY LEVY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
It's been 17 years since Dale Finley, then president of the Greater Cleveland Visitors and Convention Bureau, declared that Cleveland was Ohio's "North Coast."
Before that, the term "North Coast'' was used to identify the entire area bordering Lake Erie from Toledo to east of Cleveland.
Now, some members of the Ohio Waterways Safety Council seem inclined to push Toledo out of the state altogether - or at least change the borders.
Anyway, that's what seemed to be happening at a Council meeting I attended at Put-in-Bay in June. The agenda included a tour of Middle Bass Island.
The "tour" turned out to be a three minute swing around the marina and I didn't learn anything new about the park - not then, anyway.
But the meeting alone was worth the trip to South Bass, because it made clear that the Toledo boating community's lack of involvement in state boating legislation and planning has cost it both money and access.For example, at one point Commission members were discussing the status of a proposed grant for a transient harbor in Port Clinton. I wasn't familiar with the details, but the city apparently wouldn't or couldn't agree to the conditions.
"If they don't want the money, let's forget about the West and give it [to a project in Cleveland]" said Commission member Norm Schultz. The other members nodded approval.
"Uh … Norm," I butted in, "the West doesn't stop at Port Clinton."
"Leave it to my friend from Toledo," he said, shaking his head, and the members moved on to a discussion of a new recreational boating plan crafted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources division of watercraft.
According to the DNR, the Boating on Ohio Waterways (BOW) Plan will provide the framework for agency decision-making, budgeting and program evaluation.
One of the major recommendations is "develop transient facilities on Lake Erie's western basin islands and on the coasts of gateway cities such as Sandusky, Port Clinton, and Cleveland. As a secondary focus, develop transient facilities along the coasts of Toledo, Lorain, Fairport Harbor, and Ashtabula or Conneaut."
Another major priority: "Improved launch ramp access is needed on the Ohio River, as are additional overnight accommodations with short-term dock rental and nearby restaurants. Strategically located small tie-up facilities are needed adjacent to state tourist sites, such as Shawnee State Park and Forest, Forked Run State Park,and Shade River State Forest."
More information about the BOW plan is available at the ODNR Website at ohiodnr.com.
According to ODNR, the BOW Plan was produced with participation from Ohio's boaters, but it's hard to believe that any of them were from the Toledo area.
If "gateway" means access to Lake Erie, why wasn't Toledo accorded primary status?
Also, the BOW Plan doesn't mention the need for dredging or expanded dock facilities at Maumee Bay State Park. Also missing is any reference to the Ottawa River dredging project or transient dock facilities at the proposed Marina District.
This year the division of watercraft awarded a total of $364,994 to 29 organizations across the state to promote safe boating.
Cuyahoga County, which has 6 percent of Ohio's 416, 270 registered boats, received $128,386, or more than a third of the total. Lucas County, with 14,856 boats, or nearly 4 per cent, got zilch.
In March, ODNR awarded $36,000 in grants to 10 communities so they could place navigational aids on inland waterways. None was awarded in this area.
In 2002-3, boating facilities were improved on 20 Ohio waterways , thanks to $6.5 million in grants from the ODNR .Thirty-four organizations shared $353,000 in boating safety education grants. Marinas and organizations in Lucas County weren't among the recipients.
Out of $6.6 million allocated for cooperative boating facility projects during the two-year period, Perrysburg received $22,500 for dock improvements at Hood Park and that was it.
Funds for ODNR grants and improvements come from watercraft registration and titling fees paid by boaters, a percentage of the state gasoline sales tax, and funding from the federal government, including the Coast Guard.
Toledo doesn't have a representative on the five-member Waterways Safety Council, but area boaters can direct their comments about the BOW plan or funding for local facilities to Council president Tom Pascoe or division of watercraft chief Ken Alvey, c/o Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2045 Morse Road, Columbus, 43229-6605.
•
SEPTEMBER EVENTS:
10: Steak Roast, Detroit Beach Boat Club
10/12: U.S. Team Race Championship for the Hinman Trophy, Bayview Yacht Club
11: Historical Weekend, Put-in-Bay
11: Mid-Channel Race, North Cape Yacht Club
11: Jack and Jill Race, West Shore Sail Club
11/12: Lake Erie Offshore Performance Association Fall Poker Run, Ford Yacht Club
11/12: Fall One-Design Regatta, Sandusky Sailing Club
11/12: 54th Annual Harvest Moon Regatta, Atwood Yacht Club, Sherrodsville, OH
15/19: North American Sail and Power Show, Cedar Point Marina, Sandusky
18/19: Fall Series Regatta, Jolly Roger Sailing Club
18/19: One-Design Regatta, Grosse Ile Yacht Club
18/19: Champboat Races, San Diego.
OCTOBER:
2/3: Snow Flurris Regatta, Port Clinton Yacht Club
9/10: Put-in-Bay Fall Regatta, Put-in-Bay Yacht Club
9/10: Match Racing Championship of the Great Lakes for the Richardson Trophy, Racine (Wisc.) Yacht Club
16: Toledo International Rowing Regatta, Toledo Rowing Club, International Park.
Contact Shirley Levy at:
slevy@theblade.com.
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