With Boatramp Closed, Northside Park Is Now the Place to Go for River Access

The Colorado River boat ramp in La Grange will be closed for the next 18 months, but folks who like to kayak and canoe can now access the river at Northside Park. Workers from the City of La Grange carved a canoe and kayak launch into the river bank last week.

With cool weather approaching, there might not be too many people eager to jump in the water right now. During the warmer months, however, many area residents enjoy the short paddle between the boat ramp and White Rock Park. However, the bridge construction project forced the boat ramp to close for the next year and a half.

City Manager Shawn Raborn said he wanted to make sure residents still had a place to access the river.

“It’s a little steep, so we’re looking at adding a pole and a rope to help people out,” Raborn said. “But with the boat ramp closed, we wanted to make sure the community still had access.”

Boaters, however, will have to leave town to find public access to the river. Small, light boats can be launched from the bank at LCRA’s Plum Park, located at the end of Prairie Valley Road west of Plum. The nearest ramps suitable for larger craft are located in Smithville and Columbus.