CANTON, Okla. — The newly constructed boat ramp and parking area in the Canadian Day Use Area of Canton Lake is open for use. The ramp is longer and deeper than other ramps at the lake and should be usable for most boat launching, even if the lake level approaches a record low.
The new parking lot, adjacent to the ramp, will accommodate 30 vehicles with boat trailers and there are additional car spaces relative to the boat parking area. Near the ramp, there are two large staging areas for boaters to prep their boats for launching and prepping for the road. The driving lanes within the parking area have arrows on the asphalt surface that users need to follow to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Visitors to Canton Lake should know that while the lake level remains extremely low, boaters can launch their boats at the two usable ramps in the Canadian Day Use Area free of charge.
Visitors are also reminded that the Canadian “A” area campground remains closed. Construction of the park is ongoing and there are portions waiting for repair. Access to the area is by authorized persons and vehicles only. For safety reasons, it is important to stay out of this construction area until it is officially open for use by the Corps of Engineers.
All 77 campsites, two shower and toilet buildings, loop roads, a playground and a boat dock at the Canadian “A” area were destroyed when a tornado hit Canton Lake May 24, 2011. The storm severely damaged the Canadian Day Use Area, and destroyed the Sportsman’s Park concessionaire trailer park and boat storage.
The Corps used available funding to rebuild 52 sites in accordance with current modern design standards, complete with 50 amp electric service and concrete impact zones and trailer pads. There are now two pre-fabricated handicap accessible shower and toilet buildings and a handicap accessible playground. Additional funding recently became available to rebuild the remaining sites.
The Federal Highway Administration provided $1.32 million to rebuild the damaged camping loop roads through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program.
The longer boat ramp and modernized camping facilities should provide recreational opportunities for the public for many years to come.
(Canton Lake Manager Kathryn Carlson contributed to this article.)