BEND, OR -- Bend Parks and Recreation is getting a $300,000 grant from the Oregon State Marine Board to build a non-motorized water craft launch at Miller’s Landing.

“What's really exciting about this project is the focus has been from the very beginning that we want to provide safe dedicated river access to folks, regardless of their age, regardless of their ability,” BPRD Landscape Architect Ian Isaacson says construction on the $695,734 ramp could begin at the end of this year, or the start of next year, “This project aims to improve the usability and the accessibility at both access point one, which is the existing boardwalk and access point two, which is just downstream. What the Oregon State Marine Board just helped fund specifically is focused primarily on watercraft launching. So, launching of kayaks, canoes, stand up paddle boards, things like that.”

He tells KBND News the Miller’s Landing launch will be unique, “From what we've been able to gather from around the country. This is going to be first of its kind in terms of the breadth and the scope of accessibility that we're designing and going to be implementing at Miller's Landing.”

Isaacson says the district has received a lot of support and encouragement, “We've been awarded grants from Visit Bend, Oregon State Marine Board, Visit Central Oregon's Future Fund.”

The Miller’s Landing project should be complete by next summer.