Kayak launch opens in Metairie as part of $15M lakefront project
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Jefferson Parish is making it easier to kayak in Lake Pontchartrain with a new public launch and protected canal.
Why it matters: The goal is to get more people using the lakefront while also helping to provide storm protection infrastructure.
The big picture: The paddle canal opened Thursday and is part of a $15+ million overhaul of the lakefront from Bucktown Harbor to the Bonnabel Boat Launch.
- It's a protected area with bridges and ADA-accessible kayak and canoe launches.
By Jan. 1, kayak rentals will be available through Bayou Adventure, owner Brittany Perrin said.
- There will be a 24/7 kiosk near the launch to rent kayaks, life jackets and paddles. Prices start at $20 an hour, she said.
- The company currently offers rentals at Fountainebleau State Park.
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The fine print: The paddle canal is only open to non-motorized vessels like kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards. Fishing is not allowed.
Zoom out: The paddle canal is part of bigger, multiyear project with the focus on creating a "living shoreline."
- Officials have been plugging away at building the shoreline this year. It uses rocks and plants to protect the levee from erosion by absorbing wave energy.
- It's the first time this type of project has been used to protect a federal levee, NOAA says, and is seen as an experiment for other levees in metro New Orleans.
- The rock jetties from the living shoreline are a key part in creating the protected paddle canal.
The Bucktown Boardwalk and the Bird's Nest Learning Pavilion are also part of the project and are already open.

By the numbers: The funding comes from federal, state and local sources, including the National Park Service, NOAA, Louisiana State Parks and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
What's next: The next part of the project is a playground, which is expected to open by the end of 2025, said Michelle Gonzales, director of the parish's ecosystem and coastal management department.
- The parish also plans to break ground next year on a two-story pavilion near the harbor.




