New West Modesto Boat Launch Brings Recreation to the River
As red-shouldered hawks soared overhead and the river flowed swiftly past, a celebratory parade of paddlers took to the river in kayaks and canoes to celebrate the opening of Modesto’s new boat launch. This is the first paved ramp in Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP), and TRT organized a community paddle to mark the occasion.
The day started warm and sunny with a fleet of small crafts and a 25-ft Viking-style canoe captained by Tom Biglione. The current was strong, and the one-mile stretch from the Dry Creek put-in to the new, paved boat ramp at Neece Drive offered an easy-going route.
Built and funded by the city of Modesto, the boat ramp is the culmination of years of community advocacy and collaboration; it marks a significant win for infrastructural accessibility in the Tuolumne River Regional Park.
The boat ramp at Neece Drive also includes parking slips for vehicles with trailers, accessible parking and paths to the boat launch, native oak trees and wildflowers, safety solar lighting, fencing, and a gated entry for added security.
As the group paddled onward, the serenity of the river and the vibrancy of riparian life came into focus: oaks waving in the breeze, ravens chasing off hawks, Canada geese gliding into the water for a landing, and barn swallows circling and looping under the 9th Street Bridge. The early spring river was flowing with a gentle strength, perfectly complemented by warming weather.
The parade of paddlers finally landed at the newly opened boat ramp to a cheerful crowd just as the official city ribbon cutting finished.
The TRT-organized paddle crew celebrates the opening of Modesto’s only paved boat launch.
The boat ramp at Neece Drive in West Modesto is ready for visitors and connects with three other boat ramps along the lower Tuolumne outside of the TRRP; this beautiful stretch of the river is ready for recreation.
Read more about this important new piece of infrastructure on the banks of the lower Tuolumne River in the Modesto Bee: Modesto opens new Tuolumne River boat ramp in style. See how many paddlers turned out.
