Revamped boat ramp dedicated at Catawba Island State Park

CATAWBA TOWNSHIP — State officials wrapped up a $2.1 million expansion and renovation of a boat ramp at Catawba Island State Park.It's one of the busiest boat launch locations in the western basin of Lake Erie, Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials said.Work on land included enlarging the maneuvering area and putting in new stairways down to the maneuvering area, including handicap-accessible ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act rules.That work was carried out at a cost of $400,000 by Williams Brothers Builders of Elyria.That was followed by a second phase of water work, costing $1.2 million, that was wrapped up last month by Geo. Gradel Co. of Toledo.That work included widening the boat ramp 30 percent, from 66-feet-wide to 88-feet. The courtesy docks are being more than doubled in size, lighting at the ramp was replaced and electrical improvements were done.A new bathroom also recently was built at the site.The cost for the boat ramp included about $500,000 for design fees. The Ohio Division of Wildlife contributed $1.4 million to the construction cost.About 40 people who attended the Tuesday afternoon dedication of the boat ramp were reminded that it's only one example of the attention paid to Ottawa County parks during the Kasich administration.Jim Zehringer, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, served seven years in the post and leaves office at the end of the week.Zehringer said work carried out in Ottawa County included restoring the Lonz Winery building as part of a state park on Middle Bass Island, opening a house for people to stay in while visiting North Bass Island, putting in new electrical hookups and camping sites at East Harbor State Park and new electrical hookups on South Bass Island.The work reflects the importance of the area to the state's tourism industry, Zehringer said."Ottawa County has more state parks than any other county in the state of Ohio," Zehringer said.State Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, stressed the importance of boating to the local tourism industry.The western basin of Ohio is the third-largest concentration of boats in the United States, Arndt said. Ohio is ninth among the 50 states in the number of boat registrations, Arndt said.Waves roll onto the boat ramp at Catawba Island State Park on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.The new boat ramp at Catawba Island State Park is dedicated with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.Jim Zehringer, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, talks about the boat ramp project and other projects taken on in Ottawa County during a dedication at Catawba Island State Park on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.