Park now offers boating for 1st time in decades

East Lake Park is one of the “true gems” of Birmingham’s park system, according to Stanley Robinson, public relations coordinator for the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board. And the park now has another activity to attract visitors — one that hasn’t been allowed there for decades.

Beginning May 27, the lake was opened to the public for boating each day from sunrise to sunset using non-motorized craft: canoes, kayaks or paddleboats.

“We’re trying to get people to slow down, look and listen — and enjoy nature,” said Robinson at the park May 26 as staff posted signage displaying boating safety rules.

In addition, using funding supplied by city councilor Kim Rafferty, the park board was planning to buy 10 kayaks and six canoes for use in giving free public boating lessons at the park later in the summer. 

Gordon Black of the Cahaba River Society will oversee the lessons, according to Robinson.

The public hasn’t been allowed to paddle at the park since a major renovation in the early 1970s, according to Robinson.

She said there are plans to bring children from the city’s recreation centers to the park for boating lessons in the summer.

Officials hope to eventually have rentals of kayaks and canoes available at the park, perhaps handled by an outside vendor, according to Robinson.