August 10, 2025 – Boaters will temporarily be unable to launch at the Staley Boat Ramp along Country Club Road as the City begins a project to replace the ramp and improve the shoreline.
Beginning August 11, the Staley Boat Ramp area will not be accessible to the public. It will be closed off until the project is complete – hopefully by the start of November 2025. The city encourages boaters to use the other open public boat ramps at Nelson Park, Faries Park, and along Lake Shore Drive.
This project will upgrade and replace the existing boat ramp with a longer ramp that has a reduced slope. This will ensure safer launches for longer boats. Additionally, this area will receive shoreline stabilization improvements and updated landscaping, similar to the Hot Water Ditch area of Lake Decatur. This also fits the City’s long-term plan to upgrade the main boat ramps at Nelson Park, providing an appropriate location for boaters when those ramps are out of service.
The City is thankful for the generosity of the Staley Family Foundation, which provided significant funding for this project and also allows us to continue investing in the Staley Basin at Lake Decatur.
