Community celebrates grant for canoe launch

Published 7:00 pm Saturday, May 17, 2014

Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea President Laura Lunde cuts a ribbon Friday at what will be the future location of Golden Point Launch. The project is being made possible through a grant from Michelob Golden Draft Light. — Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea President Laura Lunde cuts a ribbon Friday at what will be the future location of Golden Point Launch. The project is being made possible through a grant from Michelob Golden Draft Light. — Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea residents and officials celebrated a $50,000 grant for Albert Lea Lake on Friday during a ceremony at Frank Hall Park.

The grant, presented from Michelob Golden Draft Light, will go toward restoring a portion of shoreline of the lake and designating it as a soft-launch for canoes, kayaks and other nonmotorized boats.

David Anglum with Anheuser-Busch speaks Friday during a ceremony at Frank Hall Park in which the company awarded the Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea with a $50,000 grant.  — Sarah Stultz/Alert Lea Tribune

David Anglum with Anheuser-Busch speaks Friday during a ceremony at Frank Hall Park in which the company awarded the Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea with a $50,000 grant. — Sarah Stultz/Alert Lea Tribune

“We’re very pleased,” said David Anglum, the trade marketing channel lead for Anheuser-Busch. “We’re proud to bring the Albert Lea Lake project to life.”

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The area will officially be called Golden Point Launch and will be between the Department of Natural Resources fishing pier and the Pelican Breeze boat dock at the park, near the start of the Blazing Star Trail.

“Albert Lea is on the map, and I can really see us moving forward,” said Laura Lunde, president of the Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea.

Lunde said the project should be completed by Aug. 23.

The site of the future Golden Point Launch, a nonmotorized boat launch. — Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

The site of the future Golden Point Launch, a nonmotorized boat launch. — Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea Lake was selected as the recipient of the grant last year through a program called Celebrate Your Lakes. The program called for people to vote for their favorite lake.

In town, Krieger Beverage promoted the program on its Facebook page.

“I’m very excited for the project,” Lunde said, noting there will be more projects to come in the future.

The Lakes Foundation partnered with The Freshwater Society for the project.

“Whoever wins in 2014, they have big shoes to follow,” said Alex Gehring, program manager for The Freshwater Society.