The TECHE Project announced on Tuesday that the installation of the floating dock in Arnaudville is now complete.
The dock is located next to Myran's Maison de Manger off of Neblett Street, and was implemented via a grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program through the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. It's also part of the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail.
It joins docks in Port Barre, Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, Loreauville, Jeanerette, Baldwin, Charenton, and Patterson in providing access to Bayou Teche for paddlers of all ages and skill levels. Future plans for the Arnaudville site include a pavilion and restroom, making it a full trailhead.
Patti Holland with The TECHE Project says, "It is an easy 3-hour paddle from Leonville to Arnaudville, where you can partake in the many great options for food, art and music that make Arnaudville such an awesome destination to enjoy Cajun culture."
The TECHE Project's mission is to develop low-impact recreation that promotes tourism in communities along Bayou Teche.
Bayou Teche is the only National Water Trail in Louisiana and one of the 21 nationally recognized water trails in the nation, an honor bestowed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This designation should increase recreational tourism for the 15 communities and four parishes along the 135-mile bayou.
As planned, the Bayou Teche Paddle trail will have a total of 15 official access points for paddle trips, as short as seven miles and as long as 130 miles. Information kiosks with
maps and community stories are also part of the infrastructure at each site, funded in part by a $46,000 grant from the Atchafalaya Trace Commission.
The paddle trail lies parallel with the state's Bayou Teche Scenic Byway and is part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. The TECHE Project nonprofit organization serves as the manager of the National Paddle Trail and is working with local communities, parish and state governments to develop a first-class paddle trail.
"St. Martin Parish is proud to have partnered with The TECHE Project to make the Arnaudville paddle trail access dock a reality," says St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars. "The construction of the dock is just the beginning, however. The parish will soon be commencing the construction of a pavilion at this site utilizing RESTORE Act funding. The surrounding community, under the leadership of its council representative, will have the benefit of a facility that will accommodate the hosting of events throughout the year on Bayou Teche. Therefore, we welcome one and all to embark on a journey of our parish, experiencing what we have to offer and starting at the paddle trail access dock in Arnaudville."
For more information, including a full list of dock locations, visit techeproject.org.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Download our free app for Apple,Android, Roku and Amazon devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
