Port of Toledo Youth Boating Clubhouse

 

Kurt Arden, left; and Jim White, right; present Port Manager Bud Shoemake, center; with a check for $10,000 from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund on February 5, 2010 at Chinook Winds Casino.

 

 

 

 

 

The Port of Toledo received a $10,000 grant from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund which will be used for materials to construct a 20’x50’ floating boathouse.  The boathouse project will provide classroom space and a home base for a youth boating program to be based in Toledo.  These funds will be added to the $4,000 grant from the Lincoln County Community and Economic Development Alliance, which was awarded late last year.

The floating boathouse will be built on a section of dock previously purchased by the Port and will be moored at the Port of Toledo docks on Depot Slough, “in an ideal, sheltered location”, according to Port Manager Bud Shoemake.  The intention is to have the boathouse finished in time for the Port of Toledo’s Wooden Boat Show, which will be August 21 and 22, 2010.  Shoemake’s plan is to utilize volunteer labor for the construction.

Jack and Maggie Brown from Depoe Bay have been instrumental in getting the floating boathouse and youth program’s ball rolling in Toledo.  They have been involved in the Depoe Bay Kids Zone Program and the Depoe Bay Rowing Club for over ten years. 

The Port owns several small boats that will be utilized for the program, most of which have been donated.  “The nice thing is, is that the kids don’t have to own their own boats in order to participate in this program” said Port Commission President Chuck Gerttula. “We are looking for someone with a boating and education background who is great with kids to spearhead this Boating Club program”, noted Shoemake, “and who has a lot of free time to invest as well.”  While the Port will be providing the building and several boats for the youth club’s use, Shoemake stated “the plan is for this to be a stand-alone program with a Program Manager and a Board of Directors to oversee the programs offered; and an entity that will be able to secure necessary funding and utilize other resources to help further the club’s purpose.”

Gerttula notes, “We thank the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for helping us bring this project to fruition.”