Mississippi River Paddle Share Set to Open Saturday, May 23
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 11:58AMVia a May 19 e-announcement:
The popular summer recreation program Mississippi River Paddle Share set to open Saturday is back this summer with COVID-19 protocols in place. Opening May 23, Minnesotans can add kayaking on the Mississippi River to their summer bucket list.
Paddle Share is a self-serve kayak program that lets participants rent a boat for several hours and paddle to a destination downriver. Its fifth season in operation brings new routes and a new schedule to the Twin Cities community.
“We are delighted to offer this recreational opportunity to our community this summer. Paddle Share is the perfect social distancing activity, offering a close-tohome adventure,” says Katie Nyberg, Executive Director of Mississippi Park Connection, a major partner of the program. Boat rentals will be available 6 days a week, rather than weekends only.
Paddle Share is a collaborative program developed to increase opportunities for people to get on the Mississippi River. Although the river passes through the Twin Cities, it is under-utilized for recreation. Paddle Share was established by the National Park Service to encourage kayaking on the river and reduce the need to own a boat or a vehicle in order to access the river.
“Paddlers can opt for a variety of river experiences,” says Lauren DeGennaro of the National Park Service. “From skyline views to wildlife watching, each route highlights different aspects of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.”
Designed for experienced paddlers, the program offers a variety of routes on the river above St. Anthony Falls that range from 2 miles to 8.5 miles. Beginner paddlers can also enjoy a more predictable paddle at the Pickerel Lake station in St. Paul.
How it works:
The system is a one-way kayak rental. Users go to the paddleshare.org website to select the route they would like to paddle, make a reservation at least a few hours in advance of when they would like to go, and are sent an access code. Users then go 111 Kellogg Blvd East, Suite 105 | Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 parkconnection.org to the rental location and use their access code to unlock the designated locker, which contains a kayak, paddle, and life jacket.
Once on the water, there is plenty of time to leisurely paddle and explore sites along the route. Users return equipment to the corresponding locker at the return station downriver before their rental time ends. Since users conclude the ride at a different location, public transportation, bike share, and ride share can help them return to their original location. Participants can also utilize two personal vehicles, one at the start and one at the finish.
Rentals are offered every day of the week except Wednesdays and Thursdays (Thursdays will open in mid-June). Prices are $30 for a single kayak, $45 for a tandem. Rates on Pickerel Lake are $20/$35.
More about COVID-19 protocols:
COVID-19 Protocols: Paddle Share is committed to providing a clean and safe way to recreate. We adhere to these standards based on best practices and CDC guidance.
Social Distancing: Staff and users must maintain the social distancing standard of 6 feet.
Cleaning: Staff will hand wash all life jackets after use. They will wash all hard surfaces including paddles and kayaks with CDC approved cleaning agents after each use.
Scheduling: All equipment will be used only once in Scheduling: a 36-hour period. This will allow everything to be cleaned and then rest before it is used again. The reservation windows are longer than in previous years, allowing for a more staggered start time.
