'Short-term fix for boaters: better access to old ramp'
Copyright News-Ledger, Aug. 29, 2007
Long-term plans may include new boat launch facility on south side of barge canal; closer on the horizon is a new rail to trail' conversion of an old railroad between the canal and Gregory Road
By Steve Marschke
News-Ledger Editor
The City of West Sacramento has hired a contractor to improve public access to the waters of the barge canal and the Port of Sacramento. But for owners of larger boats, like those used by many local fishermen, the project won’t be of much help.
David Shpak, parks planner for the city, told the News-Ledger yesterday that improvements being made west of Jefferson Boulevard on the south side of the barge canal will aid access to an old launching ramp. What the project won’t do is improve the ramp itself.
“There is an old concrete ramp there in very poor condition,” said Shpak. “Due to a combination of its surface, its slope and its actual angle off the top of the levee, it’s not a safe area for public use. So there will still be a motor vehicle barrier – we can’t let people drive down there.”
People will, however, be able to come to the launch site from a new, signalized intersection on Jefferson Boulevard across from South River Road.
“If they can hand-portage their boat – a small fishing boat, a canoe or a kayak – they can carry it into the water there,” said Shpak.
For owners of larger, trailerable boats, there is no true “public” access to the same waters. There are only the private rowing, sailing and “outboard” clubs on the north side of the port, accessible to members through a locked gate.
Why not fix the old barge canal ramp now?
“If we had tried to repair the boat ramp, we’d probably still be in talks with the regulatory agencies, and probably would be for another year. This is a popular place for recreation. We want to open it up.”
Shpak added that the city council has asked city staff to find a way to do so “expeditiously,” and this plan looked like the best thing to do for the short term.
A more complete solution may yet be on the drawing boards.
“While the parks master plan adopted in 2003 envisions access to the barge canal at this site, there is no set plan on how recreational uses will be developed there,” he commented. “Right now, that property is under discussion for development plans between the city and an equity company, the Cordish Company.”
The Cordish Company is being retained to help West Sacramento come up with a master plan for over 200 acres of waterfront property – including the barge canal site that is now home to the old boat ramp. It didn’t make sense to spend a lot of money fixing the old ramp if the new plans might call for it to be moved, he explained.
Shpak also commented on a couple of other things going on in the city’s parks system.
One of those is a “rails to trails” project involving much of the old rail line parallel to Jefferson Boulevard in Southport, the city’s southern half.
“(Track owner) Sierra Northern Railroad is removing the tracks and rail,” said Shpak. “One of the things we’re involved in now is short-term, low cost improvements to help stabilize the surface of these track beds, so people can walk on it and ride on off-road (bicycles) or horses on it. We will, in very short order, have a nice trail to walk on.”
The trail will soon be active from the barge canal south to Gregory Road.
North of that, towards the freeway, the rail is still an active line. South of Gregory Road, the trail may take longer to develop because of “privacy” issues as it travels through working farms and raises issues of safety and trespassing. Negotiations are underway with neighbors of the trail to the south, said Shpak.
Another piece of news for the city’s trail system, said Shpak, is a new path crossing over the “main drain canal.”
“We’ll be constructing a pedestrian and bike bridge over the main drain canal, between Patwin Park and Summerfield Park. This will provide another opportunity for the eventual high school (traffic), and for people to get from Bridgeway Island and Bridgeway Lakes to the town center area.”
Trails such as these won’t be open to motorized traffic, but will be open to walkers, bicyclists and equestrians.
“We’re going to have to learn to walk together in that kind of proximity, but I think it’s something we can do,” said Shpak.