Mahomet to get first ADA accessible boat launch in Champaign County

A popular gathering point in Mahomet is getting a few new features, making it more accessible for outdoor enthusiasts.

Construction on the peninsula at Lake of the Woods, located at the north entrance of the park on Lake of the Woods Road, began Wednesday. Crews began installing an ADA accessible boat dock that will allow for all visitors to get into paddle boats and kayaks to enjoy the lake.

The upgrades, funded by an OSLAD (Open Space Lands Aquisition and Development) grant alongside $5,500 from the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, will include two shelters, a 800-ft, ADA accessible path leading to the pier, picnic tables and grills.

The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

Champaign County Forest Preserve Marketing Director Lisa Sprinkle said the updates will allow the Lake of the Woods peninsula to remain open year round, whereas now it is open from May to Labor Day.

Paddle boats will not be available through the Champaign County Forest Preserve in 2020 as the project comes to completion, but access to the CCFPD lakes and forest preserves will remain open per state standards.

CCFPD expects access to the peninsula to remain open through construction season, but will limit access if supplies are being dropped off, as was the case on May 20 and 21. Notifications will be made via Facebook.

“It’s pretty popular and we want to leave it open because with everything that’s going on right now we’re really seeing a lot of people using the parks and we’re trying to keep them many areas open as possible,” CCFPD Construction Manager Mike Fry said.

Donations for the project are still being accepted. Sprinkle said that Rep. Dan Caulkins also made a donation to the peninsula project because he thought that it met a mission of accessibility for all. 

“We’re really going to push to get this done as fast as we can, because we know that people love this area,” Fry said. “We’re pretty excited about it.”