People wishing to canoe or kayak on Albert Lea Lake will have a new place to launch their boats.

The Golden Point Launch will be along the shoreline of Frank Hall Park between the Department of Natural Resources fishing pier and the Pelican Breeze boat dock.

Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea President Laura Lunde said the effort will be made possible through a $50,000 grant from Michelob Draft Golden Light, a product of Anheuser-Busch. The project will incorporate shoreline restoration and is expected to be completed by late August.

Lunde said Albert Lea Lake was the first lake chosen in the nation for the Celebrate Your Lake grant through an online contest, promoted locally by Krieger Beverage. After finding out they were selected for the grant, local officials considered six locations for the launch site. Sixty-one percent of people participating in a survey launched by the Lakes Foundation identified it as their top site.

“This has been a huge year to focus on our lakes, so we’re really excited to move forward with a project like this,” she said.

The location already has a sandy bottom and was a former boat launch location. Other benefits are that it is close to the park and it is close to vegetation, she said.

The Albert Lea City Council approved the site for the canoe and kayak launch on Monday.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen thanked Lunde for the Lake Foundation’s efforts.

Lunde said Lakes Foundation members, a representative from Anheuser Busch and other officials will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

 

Lake cleanup

Also this weekend, the Lakes Foundation of Albert Lea will host a lake cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday starting at Frank Hall Park.

Participants will clean up trash along the channel between Albert Lea and Fountain lakes.

Lunde said with the significant snowfall received this year much of the debris made it over the Fountain Lake dam, and there will be plenty of trash to clean up.

“Now that the fishing opener has happened and boats and docks are going in, we’d like to get all the debris out of the lake so people can start using those areas,” she said.

Bags, buckets and adult-size gloves will be provided.

Anyone is invited to attend, whether alone or with a group. She said in the past there have been families and Scout troops involved.

“If you can come for an hour and fill up a bag with your family, that’s awesome,” she said.

The Lakes Foundation started in 1934 and has organized lake cleanups most years since.

 

If you go

What: Golden Point Launch ribbon cutting

When: 10:30 a.m. Friday

Where: Frank Hall Park

 

And

What: Lake cleanup

When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday

Where: Frank Hall Park