By Brandi Makuski

The third of five new fishing piers has been installed at Bukolt Park.

All of the new piers, which were constructed by Prime Water Anglers, are handicapped-accessible and open to the public — and each is sponsored by a local resident or business. The newest pier was sponsored by a local couple, Todd and Becky Okray, and officially opened on Nov. 9.

“I met up with the PWA about four years ago out at Club 10, where they were doing some big fishing tournament,” said Todd Okray, who is employed at Len Dudas Motors. “We’re Stevens Point people- we love Bukolt Park, and it’s such a wonderful place.”

Becky Okray, who has been with Shippy Shoes for nearly 30 years, said she grew on the north side of town.

“I love the river,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to go fishing after school.”

Jeff Rautio, PWA vice president, said each one of the structures cost about $1,500 to construct, and the group has been working with the Stevens Point Parks Dept. to ensure the new piers are safe and appropriate for the park.

“But we get a lot of that [$1,500] in donations, labor and materials, things like that,” he said.

The group is in the process of constructing a fourth pier on the south lagoon, this one sponsored by the Portage County Wildlife Fund.

The fifth pier will be installed sometime in 2017. A sponsor for that pier has yet to be named.

For more information on PWA, find the group on Facebook.