By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point Alliance (SPA) and Prime Water Anglers (PWA) are working with the city of Stevens Point to install a new dock and kayak launch at Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

The water entryways will give boaters easy access to downtown Stevens Point, and give kayakers a safe space to launch into the Wisconsin River.

“As of now, we are still currently funding the project,” said SPA President Troy Hojnacki. “It’s an ongoing effort of the Stevens Point Alliance. There are no city funds involved in this. It’s all community funding through business and private donations.”

The alliance recently held their Rock the Dock event to aid in raising proceeds for the project on June 15. Hojnacki noted that roughly 1,000 visitors attended the event. Rock the Dock helped the group raise around $9,000. While the organization’s fundraising efforts are still ongoing, work on the dock has already begun. PWA members have started preliminary groundwork at the location, and plan to commence concrete and foundational work as early as June 20.

Hojnacki explained that the project is in “stage one.” The groups hope to add “wings” to the landing, giving boaters diagonal stalls to tie up, offering more space. Fundraising endeavors will be continuous throughout the dock’s multiple stages.

“Our goal is to have the dock ready by July 4, for the Riverfront Rendezvous,” said PAW President Jeff Rautio.

PWA is spearheading the construction and installation of the landing. The dock is 36 feet long and six feet wide, but the size may increase in the coming years.

“People have been talking about building a dock to get downtown for years,” Hojnacki said. “No other groups were stepping up to do it, so we decided to throw our hat in and step up. It’s part of our focus on keeping downtown vibrant.”

The city will own the dock once the project is complete, and PWA will maintain the landing for the next five years.

“We can’t have that contract forever,” Rautio said. “After those five years, we will have to look for someone else to maintain it.”

The new dock and kayak launch will give tourists and locals a new way to utilize the waterfront and downtown area, further expanding Stevens Point’s recreational resources.

The dock is located behind the Riverfront Arts Center.

To donate to the project visit: www.downtownpointwi.com/rockthedock. To volunteer with the Prime Water Anglers visit: https://primewateranglers.com.