Boat Launch on Saratoga County Lake Gets Demolished

Well it was already damaged, but now it's almost gone. The Ballston Lake Pier, which has been a public access way for canoeing, kayaking and fishing - is no longer. But that's only part of the story.

Over the winter, the freezing and thawing ice took its toll on the dock and the town closed it over safety concerns back in April. After that, vandals damaged the pier even more. Town Supervisor Kevin Connolly told News 10:

We had some vandals disconnect the fishing platform by pulling out the ramp connector pins. They also dumped the ramp into the lake. We recovered the ramp and had the dock company come by to secure the platform in a more permanent fashion

After the pier was declared a public safety emergency, work sped up on getting the old dock out and and a new one in its place. Crews began working this week to take out what remains of the dock, which had been blocked off by pieces of plywood informing anyone wishing to use it that it was unsafe.

Connolly says the town has a goal of getting the new pier built and back open in time for summer of 2023. It's expected to have better and easier access to the lake for canoes and kayaks.

In the between time, access to the lake is available at the boat launch across from Finnegan's Restaurant, although there is a cost to use that launch since it is privately owned.