OTTAWA, OH (WLIO) - Ottawa is helping people get easier access to one of their best natural resources. The village and the Greenspace Development Committee officially open their latest project, the new Blanchard River Access for canoes and kayaks at Arrowhead Park. This goes along with one already at the village reservoir. Besides the concrete access point, the committee has also created three miles of walking paths around the park. The land that they are using for these projects are in the areas that have been affected by the Blanchard River Flooding. But they want to change the narrative, making the river an asset, rather than a burden to the village.
“Most of the year it is a joy to be on,” says Tim Macke, Greenspace Development Committee Chairperson. “Kayaking, fishing, and those types of things. So, we wanted to make sure we have some type of access, so we can go ahead and take the river and use it as a drawing point to bring people to Ottawa. Because we have a really nice community, and we want to be able to show it off to the rest of the area.”
To help get people in the river, the committee held a poker run for canoes and kayaks and they are finding more ways to make the area a recreation destination.
“Yep, that is what we are trying to do is get people in the river and showcase it,” adds Don Croy, Greenspace Development Committee. “It’s a great river. It’s about four miles from the first landing to his landing and Glandorf is working on the next landing which is about three miles downstream. So, it will be really nice, then we will have different areas to get in and out.”
The next phase for Arrowhead Park is putting in restrooms and creating an all-abilities playground on the high ground of the park.
