Visitors and residents of Wallaceburg have a new option to see what the Sydenham River has to offer.
The Downtown Wallaceburg BIA has launched its kayak rental service called Whimsies Paddle Adventure, which will be available throughout September and will return next year. Kayaks can be rented out of the building at Civic Square Park at 779 Dufferin Ave.
The BIA currently has six beginner recreation kayaks available, but will add a two-person kayak and two paddle boards soon.
The kayaks can be rented for one-hour, half a day or a full day, with prices ranging from $15 to $45.
“If you come at the start of the day, then you can be out for seven hours,” Kelsey Nydam, the BIA’s executive director, said.
“It’s more tiring than you think, especially if it’s hot out. We’ve done a couple of trial trips. For most beginners, we probably recommend a two- to three-hour trip max.”
The initiative started with a $3,000 grant the BIA received last year through the Chatham-Kent “Spark” Program geared towards tourism ideas.
The kayaks came from the Wallaceburg Chamber of Commerce and the BIA has worked with the Wallaceburg Community Kayak Club, the Wallaceburg Trails Committee and the Wallaceburg and District Museum to develop the idea.
The BIA also hired two students as part of the Canada Summer Jobs Program to get the kayak rental started.
A launching dock was also purchased to help kayakers into the water.
Nydam said the municipal building at Civic Square Park hadn’t been used regularly for about 20 years. Some of the ceiling panels were taken out so the kayaks could be placed vertically on a rack built by a local woodworker.
A more in-depth renovation is planned for the off-season, Nydam said.
“Our plan is to have tourism information,” she said. “The idea is to bring people from outside of Wallaceburg, to bring in those tourism dollars. Once you’re here, we want to encourage you to explore the rest of Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent and have a full experience.”
One of the windows will slide open and people can walk up to talk with staff and sign their waivers, she said.
The BIA also wanted to make the kayak rental a “curated experience,” Nydam said. A temporary website at https://bit.ly/whimsiespaddlerental features a map of attractions along the water and suggested routes.
“We don’t want people to just rent a kayak and paddle for a couple hours. We want them to learn about our waterway, our local history and our environment,” Nydam said. “The Sydenham is one of the most species-diverse water systems in Ontario.”
Those who head north from the launch point can take a trip to Crothers Park with restaurants, the walking bridge and Otter Creek along the way. Crothers Park also has a kayak launcher.
The south trail features the McNaughton Bridge, the Base Line Bridge, the former glass factory and a grain elevator from 1939.
Nydam said they will eventually offer packages which will include meals or items from local businesses and other experiences in downtown Wallaceburg.
“The idea is to make money and buy better kayaks and canoes and all those kinds of things and then all other profits will be given back into the downtown projects like beautification,” Nydam said.
Nydam said the BIA is planning a grand opening in May once the renovations are complete and next year’s season begins.
