By Kiera Morgan

Thanks to a grant of over $8,000 from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, a second boathouse is being built to support the activities of the Toledo Community Boathouse. The new boathouse will be used as a classroom for boating safety and instruction and will host Oregon Boating Foundations kayak and sailing camps.  This boathouse is being built by a volunteer construction crew led by Joe Novello.  The group got started on the new boathouse project right after this years’ wooden boat show. The current boathouse was donated to the port and has been well used but is in poor condition. The new floating boathouse will help to house life preservers, paddles, oars and small boats that support activities that take place at the Toledo Community Boathouse. These items will be available to use to the public for free during the regular boathouse operation hours.

The Toledo Community Foundation also supplies financial services for the boathouse. They manage and receive grants and help with the day to day management and operation of the facilities. Other partner organizations include the Oregon Boating Foundation, which provides kayak and sailing camps along with another partner agency the Coast Guard Auxilary, which provides boating safety classes. The current community boathouse and the one being built are all operated by volunteers. At the current boathouse there have been over 40 boats built by families and community members. Also many visitors and locals have been able to get some basic boating instruction and borrow a boat and go out on Depot Slough. The community boathouse was established in 2011 with the idea of getting more people out on the water.