June 22, 2009
Boat dock at campus lake re-opens
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- You can celebrate the start of summer and the steady return to normalcy after the destructive May 8 storm by gliding across campus lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Closed since the storm, the campus boat dock reopens today, June 22. The regular hours of operation are noon-6 p.m. every day, weather permitting. With the reopening of the docks comes the return of the popular Moonlight Canoeing on the lake too.
Although the storm devastation forced cancellation of the June date, the boating event is back, beginning July 7. Anyone can participate in the free evening activity. Just bring a valid photo identification to the campus boat dock and you can enjoy a ride in a canoe or paddleboat. Each vessel holds two to four people.
Additional Moonlight Canoeing sessions are set for Aug. 6, Sept. 4 and Oct. 4 from 8 to 10 p.m. It’s a popular event, drawing up to 120 or more participants on previous evenings. Organizers don’t accept reservations; canoe and paddleboat loans are on a first-come, first-served basis during Moonlight Canoeing.
Campus beach and the walking path around campus lake remain closed at this time as crews continue to clear storm debris. University officials anticipate they will reopen in mid-July.
For more information about Moonlight Canoeing, look online at www.reccenter.siu.edu or contact Jeff Goelz at 618/453-1376 or e-mail jgoelz@siu.edu.