A South Haven boat launch site, being the only public boat launch between Benton Harbor and Saugatuck, will likely be even busier than ever before thanks to an amazing new amenity from the City of South Haven.
City officials say this week that work is now complete on the construction of a new fish cleaning station at the Black River Park and Boat Launch.
Kate Hosier, Assistant City Manager and also Harbormaster for South Haven says, “With its several miles on the Black River and direct access to the Lake Michigan fishery, the City of South Haven has a long history of supporting recreational opportunities for anglers.” Hosier adds, “This project creates not only one of the nicest fish cleaning facilities along the shores of Lake Michigan, but one that is free to use by both our residents and visitors alike.” Additionally, the facility is universally accessible meaning persons with all abilities will be able to use the facility as with all of the other amenities in the park and boat launch area.
The Black River Park boat launch is the only public boat launch between Benton Harbor and Saugatuck and serves a large angler population. Persons not using the launch will also be able to take advantage of the new fish cleaning station by parking in the free lot immediately south of the facility.
The overall design of the facility is both aesthetically pleasing as well as resilient, having been built from cut concrete block and steel. Amenities found in the structure include:
- Two multi-station cleaning tables with grinders
- Spray hoses and power cords for knives that feed each table from above
- A fish scaler
- A cooler cleaning station
The building was constructed by Balkema Construction of Kalamazoo. Benton Harbor-based Abonmarche provided architectural and engineering design services for the facility as well as the work to secure a grant from the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust on behalf of the City of South Haven in the amount of $150,000 to offset a portion of the overall project costs.
Harbormaster Hosier tells us, “The new fish cleaning station represents the City’s continued commitment to making improvements and creating new recreational opportunities in Black River Park.”
Hosier notes that over the past five years the City has:
- Renovated the restrooms
- Improved and expanded parking
- Installed a new universally accessible kayak/canoe launch
- Connected the park to the Kal-Haven trail
- Installed new skid piers at the launch
- Many other improvements
Hosier reports, “Most importantly, the new fish cleaning station brings even greater value to the landside fishing platform we built just up river and within walking distance of the facility two years ago”
You will find the new fish cleaning station open 24 hours a day, seven days a week from April 15th through October and then will be on reduced hours or closed from November through April.
