Erin Dwyer
For the Telegraph-Journal
Appeared on page C6
HAMPTON - With the Kennebecasis River flowing through its quarters, the Town of Hampton is looking for someone to provide canoe and kayak rentals from its new river centre.
It wants to see residents and tourists this summer experiencing the waterway, which winds through the town, skirting along 2,000 hectares of marshland that is recognized as the most fertile and productive wetlands in the province.
The Hampton Marsh provides habitat for black ducks, blue-winged teal and wood ducks, and foraging areas for eagles, ospreys, cranes, moose, deer, beaver and muskrat.
Last week, the town issued a call for proposals looking for an outfitter that would enter into a lease agreement with Hampton for a space at the newly constructed Lighthouse Park River Centre.
"We've got a 95-square-metre room in the basement of the building and we would be looking at renting that out to an outfitter who would be interested in doing canoe and kayak rentals, bicycle rentals and anything like that to add to the services on-site," said town manager Richard Malone.
Already, he's had calls from people looking for more information.
"I think there is some interest out there."
The Lighthouse Park River Centre is the town's latest project - one that began more than two years ago when Hampton partnered with the St. John River Society to look at expanding its small Lighthouse Park, bordering the river, to become part of the Lower St. John River Trail Network.
Through ACOA, the town received $654,851 toward the $949,119 project.
The 220-square-metre building sits near Main Street, its large windows looking out onto the river. The building is equipped with a kitchen. Its hall space will be used for environmental and cultural workshops, classes, events, school programs and family activities.
But the town also sees the centre as a base for many recreational activities, including skating, skiing, boating, snowshoeing, canoeing and kayaking, bike tours, marsh tours, and cruise ship excursions.
"Our hope is that it will be a recreation and tourism area for the whole town, and hopefully bring in economic spinoffs for the whole community," Malone said.
"It will provide more to do on the river and in the town, and complement everything that is going on over there," he added.
The town is also seeking a manager who would oversee both the river centre and the town's tourism centre in the old railway building. It recently advertised the position.
The town is hoping to open the river centre in March to groups interested in renting the hall space. An open house for the public is slated for the spring.
"A lot of people are very curious about (the centre)," Malone said.
By summer, the town is hoping to have an outfitter ready to occupy the room in the walk-out basement. The closing date for the proposals is Feb. 22. A committee of council will review those received and make a recommendation to council as early as March.
