Funds from the Fishing is Fun program will provide more than $40K for a fully accessible dock.
Local anglers looking to land a fish in Wellington will soon have better fishing access and accommodations thanks in part to a grant from the State of Colorado.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), through its Fishing is Fun program, recently awarded Wellington more than $40,000 for the purchase and installation of a fishing dock for the West Pond at Wellville Park. The dock, which will extend 40 feet into the water, is in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, ensuring fishing access for all members of the community.
“The new fishing dock at Wellville Park improves access for all members of our community,” says Lorilyn Bockelman, chair of the Parks, Recreation, Open Spaces and Trails (PROST) advisory board. “Fishing is a cherished pastime that can now be enjoyed by everyone. This is step forward to creating a more welcoming community.”
In addition to the grant funding, the town will provide about $14,000 in local and in-kind matches. The town’s contribution will help cover the cost of labor for installation as well as concrete for upgraded access points, which will make the new dock completely accessible from both the concrete path and pavilion at Wellville Park.
EZ dock plan
Installing a dock at a local pond has long been a goal for members of the PROST board as well as town officials, who initially slated the effort as a Capital Improvement Plan project before grant funding became available. In fact, the accessible nature of the new dock, along with the opportunity it will provide for community gatherings, matches with multiple points on the Wellington Board of Trustees’ Strategic Plan.
“The installation of the fishing dock aligns with our Strategic Plan,” Wellington Parks and Recreation Manager Billy Cooksey says. “By enhancing accessibility, fostering community gathering spaces and promoting outdoor recreation, we are creating a more connected community for all residents to enjoy.”
Those doing the fishing might not be the only ones who benefit from the new dock. According to experts, the dock will provide cover as well as an ecological structure for the variety of fish stocked by CPW in the West Pond. Not only could those factors make for healthier fish, but they also make Wellville Park an even more ideal location for events like the town’s annual Fishing Derby.
Town officials hope to start work on the new dock before the end of the summer 2024. For more information on fishing and other recreation opportunities in Wellington, contact the town’s parks and recreation department at 970.568.7410.
