Kayak launches provide new recreation opportunity
The annual Connoquenessing Creek Cleanup has evolved into a new and unique recreational opportunity for county residents.
The Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, which has pulled more than 4,000 tires and 360,000 pounds of trash from the Connoquenessing Creek, has placed four canoe and kayak launches along the creek in Butler County and two in neighboring Beaver County.
Construction on a launch at the Kittanning Street bridge in Butler will begin in October.
Mike Handley, president of the alliance, said almost all of the launches include a picnic table and some have additional benches or a pavilion so non-boaters can enjoy a picnic or toss a ball into the creek for their dogs.
Receptacles for old fishing line, trash cans and signs that were custom-made by members of the alliance's board of directors are also in place at each launch.
Jack Cohen, the president of the county Tourism and Convention Bureau, minces no words regarding the alliance members' unrelenting hard work in creating the boat launches along the banks of the “Connie.”
“It's one of the best things I've seen in 17 years (with the tourism bureau),” Cohen said.
The alliance plans to continue adding accesses to the banks of the Connoquenessing.
“We try to put in more launches every year because the goal is to have a launch every four to five miles so people are able to really get in and enjoy the creek,” Handley said.
The launch at Kittanning Street in Butler is meant to allow fishermen and kayakers to access the creek safely, as they now must climb down a steep, rocky bank through brush and weeds.
For more information on the launches, the cleanups and upcoming alliance events, log onto www.alleghenyaquaticalliance.com or search “Allegheny Aquatic Alliance” on Facebook.
Find out more about the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance and the other boat launches in Sunday's Butler Eagle.
