Donations Needed To Secure Permanent Upper Yough Takeout
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 8:44 pm
From: Charlie Walbridge
The Mayor and Town Council of Friendsville has protected the interests of Upper Yough paddlers many times over the past 18 months. Their efforts have prevented cancellation of up to 35% of summer dam releases and halted efforts by Deep Creek State Park to charge a per-head river running fee at the Sang Run access this summer. The Town of Friendsville will continue to protect and develop the river resource and is now asking for your support.
A generous 4 acre land donation from a Friendsville resident has put a permanent, convenient takeout for the Upper Yough within reach. The donated land is in the field on the upstream side of Route 742. This new lot will greatly improve boater parking in town. The current arrangement, with paddlers parking on both sides of busy State Route 742, is a source of friction with town residents as well as a real safety concern. Councilman Jess Whittemore has spearheaded an effort to create large parking lot on these four acres.
Once the lot is in place, taking out will be easier. Paddlers will be able to get out under the I-68 bridge and walk past the church to the field or continue down to the Wilderness Voyageurs access. There will be parking for 125 cars, with room for expansion. Although the lot will require almost $100,000 to finish completely, we can be parking on the grass this season for much less money. The town hopes to keep the lot open free of charge, but this will happen only if they can raise the money for this complex and expensive project from outside sources. They are aggressively pursuing grants, but paddler donations are also needed.
It's time for Upper Yough paddlers to support the town! You can double the value of your donation by acting now. American Whitewater and several past and present board members have created a $2000 fund to match the first $2000 of individual donations. The Coastal Canoeists have put up $1500 to match donations from paddling clubs. Our goal is $12,000, which will pay for a culvert and entryway off Route 742, a fence at the edge of the parking lot along Church Street, and a boater change area at the far end of the parking lot.
LET'S SHOW THE TOWN WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT!
For more information: http://americanwhitewater.org/content/W ... rking_fund" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?
To donate on line: fill out the donation form at https://americanwhitewater.org/donate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Under Additional Comments / In Honor Of please enter Upper Yough Parking
Clubs should make checks out to the Town of Friendsville. Please put Boater Parking in the FOR line at the bottom of the check and mail to: Town of Friendsville, PO Box 9, Friendsville, MD 21531. Individuals who prefer to pay by check can do the same. Please drop Councilman Whittemore an email (see below) so he knows that it's coming,
Questions? Please contact Councilman Jess Whittemore at jwit@mac.com or Charlie Walbridge at ccwalbridge@cs.com.
Please: email or facebook this to your Upper Yough boating buddies!
The Mayor and Town Council of Friendsville has protected the interests of Upper Yough paddlers many times over the past 18 months. Their efforts have prevented cancellation of up to 35% of summer dam releases and halted efforts by Deep Creek State Park to charge a per-head river running fee at the Sang Run access this summer. The Town of Friendsville will continue to protect and develop the river resource and is now asking for your support.
A generous 4 acre land donation from a Friendsville resident has put a permanent, convenient takeout for the Upper Yough within reach. The donated land is in the field on the upstream side of Route 742. This new lot will greatly improve boater parking in town. The current arrangement, with paddlers parking on both sides of busy State Route 742, is a source of friction with town residents as well as a real safety concern. Councilman Jess Whittemore has spearheaded an effort to create large parking lot on these four acres.
Once the lot is in place, taking out will be easier. Paddlers will be able to get out under the I-68 bridge and walk past the church to the field or continue down to the Wilderness Voyageurs access. There will be parking for 125 cars, with room for expansion. Although the lot will require almost $100,000 to finish completely, we can be parking on the grass this season for much less money. The town hopes to keep the lot open free of charge, but this will happen only if they can raise the money for this complex and expensive project from outside sources. They are aggressively pursuing grants, but paddler donations are also needed.
It's time for Upper Yough paddlers to support the town! You can double the value of your donation by acting now. American Whitewater and several past and present board members have created a $2000 fund to match the first $2000 of individual donations. The Coastal Canoeists have put up $1500 to match donations from paddling clubs. Our goal is $12,000, which will pay for a culvert and entryway off Route 742, a fence at the edge of the parking lot along Church Street, and a boater change area at the far end of the parking lot.
LET'S SHOW THE TOWN WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT!
For more information: http://americanwhitewater.org/content/W ... rking_fund" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?
To donate on line: fill out the donation form at https://americanwhitewater.org/donate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Under Additional Comments / In Honor Of please enter Upper Yough Parking
Clubs should make checks out to the Town of Friendsville. Please put Boater Parking in the FOR line at the bottom of the check and mail to: Town of Friendsville, PO Box 9, Friendsville, MD 21531. Individuals who prefer to pay by check can do the same. Please drop Councilman Whittemore an email (see below) so he knows that it's coming,
Questions? Please contact Councilman Jess Whittemore at jwit@mac.com or Charlie Walbridge at ccwalbridge@cs.com.
Please: email or facebook this to your Upper Yough boating buddies!
