Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Cullen Park offers beautiful respite

Cullen Park has it all. It is the only free, public launch (4526 Summit St.) in the Toledo area with direct access to Maumee Bay and to western Lake Erie. Toledoans Heng and Tasha Kim like the proximity to the mouth of the Maumee’s really good fishing spots.

Their favorite is just seven miles east near the Harbor Light Lighthouse. Improvements to the Cullen Park launch, made last year by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, included dredging a wider, deeper channel and installing new buoys. “It really makes the ramp and dock easier to launch from and the water easier to navigate,” said Tasha Kim, who has an 18’ Lund fishing boat.
There is a separate area for kayaks and canoes, and an expansive parking lot which accommodates larger trailers. Benches, placed along the shoreline’s grassy knoll and under the shady cluster of trees, offer a nice waterside respite. One of the park’s best features is the Squadron Island Nature Trail. The naturalized manmade causeway (southeast side of parking lot and marked with concrete slabs) is a delightful, unique walking experience with enticing water views on both sides. The one mile, tree-lined pathway (take the right fork) creates a sense of anticipation and discovery as the tree branches form enticing entry ways to several pretty little beach areas for fishing, bird watching, picnicking or to behold the gorgeous view. The path eventually leads to the grand, naturally occurring Squadron Island for more breathtaking sights. Visit cullenpark.org for more info.