Comal County Commissioners Court on Thursday signed off on supplemental agreements to easement and consent areas at Canyon Lake boat ramps #1, 2 and 5, clearing the way for more safety and parking improvements.
On hand to thank commissioners for their vote were Doug Leecock, who is running against Joyce Yannuzzi for Precinct 1 county commissioner, and Canyon Lake resident Gloria Meehan.
They represented the Canyon Lake Boat Ramps Community Alliance (CLBRCA), which has worked closely with Commissioners Court for three years to identify and advocate for much-needed upgrades to the county’s nine aging boat ramps.
“Honestly this is one of the better examples of government working with the community to come up with effective solutions for the betterment of the folks who live here and also to visitors of this community now and for generations to come,” Meehan said.
“I just wanted to add that this will provide better access, safety and parking at our nine county operated boat ramps and we can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition. Let’s just get it done.”
Upgrades
Boat Ramp #1 — The tract will be expanded by .422 acre to allow for installation of pipe rail to contain vehicles along the west side of the easement. The existing, unimproved single-vehicle parking area will be upgraded to an asphalt area with 20 single-vehicle parking spaces.
Boat Ramp #2 — The tract will be expanded by 0.069 acre to allow for the installation of pipe rail to contain vehicles along the east side of the easement. The existing, unimproved single-vehicle parking area will be upgraded to an asphalt parking area with four single-vehicle parking spaces. An existing, unimproved boat launching/retrieving preparation area will be improved with an asphalt surface.
Boat Ramp #5 – The tract will be expanded by 0.657 acre to allow for the installation of pipe rail to contain vehicles along the east and west side of the easement. A small asphalt turnaround for boat ramp launching-and-retrieving along the access road above the boat ramp will be constructed. The county will add non-trailered spaces and build a turnaround area close to the ramp.
“It’s been a long time looking at these,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Donna Eccleston, who is stepping down. “We’ve had significant problems with the safety and overcrowding. I think this is a very useful thing.”
Pct. 4 Commissioner Jen Crownover, who also represents Canyon Lake on Commissioners Court, said the upgrades will make the boat ramps “a lot more user-friendly.
“I know a lot of people have been working on this, and not just the county but some people in our community,” she said. “A lot of collaboration along the way.”
County Judge Sherman Krause said the county’s road department recently expanded the length of boat ramps #2, 7 and 8. Boat ramp #1 was not extended but blocks were put in place to prevent erosion from blocking the ramp.
To learn more about current boat ramp projects underway in Comal County, visit this site run by the Comal County Engineer’s Office.
All county-operated boat ramps are closed headed into Memorial Day weekend but can be used to hand-launch kayaks and canoes.
