Simply put, there should be more access to such a large resource for activity.
David and Anna Scharff bring their paddleboard rentals back to the pier underneath the Market Street Bridge on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Employees of SUP Paddleboards carry the boards to and from the river.
David and Anna Scharff bring their paddleboard rentals back to the pier underneath the Market Street Bridge on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Employees of SUP Paddleboards carry the boards to and from the river.There is no shortage of flat-water paddling destinations in the Chattanooga area to keep kayakers, canoers and stand-up paddleboarders entertained, but there is room to improve the accessibility of those sports in the city’s core, local enthusiasts say.
Now, the primary launch point for flat-water paddlers in the North Shore area is at Coolidge Park, underneath the Market Street Bridge. Otherwise, entry points to the Tennessee River remain limited.
“Simply put, there should be more access to such a large resource for activity,” said Evan O’Lannerghty, a four-year employee of L2 Outside, which rents paddleboards and other hand-carried watercraft at the corner of Market and First streets.
Part of the long-term renovation plan for Ross’s Landing on the South Side of the River includes the installation of a permanent gangway onto a floating dock downriver from the pier. That’s an ideal location for paddleboarders to enter the river because the current is rarely strong there, said Phillip Grimes, director of Outdoor Chattanooga.