New Philadelphia boat ramps to open soon

Two new boat and kayak ramps are nearly ready to open along the stretch of the Tuscarawas River passing through New Philadelphia. The ramps, construction of which has been delayed due to heavy rain and high water levels, will be dedicated on Aug. 10 at noon.

The ramps will be ready for use that day, and paddlers are encouraged to get in and enjoy the new opportunity to enjoy the river.

“We had planned to get the ramps opened by July 20,” New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day said. “But with the high water levels, we felt it would be safer to give that a chance to subside. Construction has certainly been held up by all this rain.”

Day said the ramps came out of a question asked by the new administration soon after taking office. “What assets does New Philadelphia have which we can utilize more fully for economic growth and greater quality of life for our residents?”

One of the assets quickly identified was the river. “We wanted to look for ways to use the river both to help the economy and for recreational opportunities,” Day said. “A boat ramp seemed like the perfect idea. And we realized we needed two to provide put-in spots for our emergency responders. There’s a sewer line that crosses the river at Mill Avenue, which creates a dam, a place you have to get out and go around. Having two ramps helps eliminate that necessity when time is critical.”

The two ramps are off the New Philadelphia Waterworks Park and at the former Carlisle Canoe Livery on state Route 416 at the edge of the city. The ramp at the park is complete, and the other remains under construction.

Mary Jo Monte-Kaser, an avid paddler and advocate, said the section of river may become a part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio Water Trail.

The trail requires regular public access points. “Muskingum Watershed is heading up the effort and is working with Port Washington and Newcomerstown,” Monte-Kaser said. “New Philadelphia will be ready soon, and Gnadenhutten and Tuscarawas already have ramps.”

Monte-Kaser said the goal is to be able to put a boat in any location along the river with more ramps available nearby to get out again wherever a boater may wish. “The river is definitely an asset to use for the public,” she said. “Once we have Water Trail designation, we’ll be included on maps of connected state parks, bringing boaters to our community by river.”

Both Monte-Kaser and Day spoke of the assistance of American Electric Power in the project. “AEP allowed us to use a piece of land at Mill Avenue, which will become a portage to enable boaters to make their way around the dam created by the crossing sewer line,” Day said.

The mayor said the project steps fell together neatly. “During the research for the project, we learned that the former Carlisle Livery was available, and the city was able to work with the family to buy that ramp location for $24,000. We then applied to the ODNR for a Clean Ohio grant for funding and were granted that,” he said.

The funding dictated, in part, what the ramps would look like. “With Clean Ohio funding, we had to make sure the ramps are water permeable and not solid concrete or asphalt slabs. They’re made up of interlocking, open concrete blocks. The parking areas are grass, but under the grass is a mesh and gravel bed capturing leakage from vehicles. It will be an environmentally responsible and green space,” Day said.

The formal Aug. 10 opening will see speakers from ODNR and MWCD. Marissa Lautzenheiser, who works with Huff Run/Mud Run Watershed clean-up projects, will be responsible for maintaining the clean ecology of the area going forward.

“The Aug. 10 open is a go,” Day said, “as long as we don’t get more of this crazy rain levels.”