Improving access to the city’s water resources was the goal behind the Pokegama Bay rustic boat launch project in the Superior Municipal Forest.
With the improvement project complete, the city of Superior and Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve are inviting the public to celebrate with an outdoor ribbon cutting, snacks and free canoe rides.
The event runs 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 in the Superior Municipal Forest on Billings Drive, about one mile north of the intersection with Highway 105.
The city and Superior-Douglas County Chamber of Commerce will hold the ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and the Lake Superior Reserve will offer refreshments, canoes, life jackets and paddles so guests can try the new launch until 5:30 p.m.
The new Superior facility includes restrooms, parking, native plants, a dock and a boat and paddle craft launch. The site connects residents and visitors to the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail as well as hunting, fishing and boating opportunities.
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Construction of the updated launch was accomplished through local, state and federal partnerships. The Pokegama Launch was designed using federal funds from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.
The Lake Superior Reserve secured $125,000 in construction funding from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, part of the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the U.S. Department of Commerce. Superior paid for 30% of the $175,000 project through the city’s capital improvement program.
More information, including cancellation or weather-related changes, can be found on the Lake Superior Reserve Facebook page at facebook.com/lakesuperiorreserve .
