Erie Ambassador Program: Session 8 – Presque Isle Tour
On a brisk but sunny evening, we boarded the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority’s water taxi at the Wolverine Park marina for session eight of the Erie Ambassador program. The water taxi operates daily from late May to early October ($9 round trip/$7 one-way/$7 children) and crosses the bay to Presque Isle Water Works from both Dobbins Landing and Liberty Park.
Ray Schreckengost, executive director of the Port Authority, manned the mic as we wound our way through the marina and past the Bayfront Convention Center. The marina at Wolverine Park is a transient boating facility that offers temporary docking for up to 10 days. This is also where two Homeland Security boats dock.
The Bayfront Convention Center traces its history back 15 to 20 years when then Mayor Joyce Savocchio proposed a bayfront restaurant and hotel for the location. Experts advised that more development was needed, and from that the project began. The facility was completed in 2007 with 50,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space available for events from weddings to conventions. The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, accessible by sky bridge from the convention center, enjoys high occupancy year round.
After clearing the convention-center channel, we headed out onto Presque Isle Bay, and passed the 187-foot Bicentennial Tower, completed in 1995 to celebrate Erie’s 200th birthday. The tower’s observation deck is reachable by elevator and offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
Next, we passed the Bayfront Maritime Center, which provides maritime-themed educational opportunities for the community, especially veterans, the disabled, and at-risk youth.
Meanwhile, the Port Authority’s shipyard program leases 44 acres to DonJon Shipbuilding, which features the largest drydock (1,250 ft.) on the Great Lakes. DonJon builds and repairs marine vessels and recently built three barges for the New York City Department of Sanitation. It is also repairing a 1,000-foot ship called the Presque Isle, which sustained ice damage during the area’s worst winter in 20 years.
You might be interested to know that perch fishing is incredible in Lake Erie, according to Schreckengost. He pointed out the south slip, with handicap access. He also pointed out the channel, which provides transit from Presque Isle Bay to Lake Erie. It is maintained at a depth of 27 feet by the Coast Guard. And soon we were docked at the Presque Isle Coast Guard Station.
Protected by the Coast Guard
Built in 1876, Coast Guard Station #236 protects an area that stretches from Dunkirk, NY, to Conneaut, Ohio. The staff of 20 are the first responders for water emergencies in their territory. To see some of their equipment, we stepped aboard the 47’ Motor Lifeboat, which can take 30 ft. breaking waves and will right itself, if it capsizes. We also viewed the 25’ response boat, powered by two Honda 225 V-tech engines. This is the vessel the Coast Guard uses, if it needs to get somewhere in a hurry.
Inside the station, we toured the communications room, the dining and recreations areas, and best of all, met the station dog, a large Labrador named Chief. This friendly guy roams the building and grounds carrying a scruffy toy, ever ready to play fetch.
Soon we re-boarded the water taxi for our return trip across the bay and learned a bit more about the bayfront, such as facts about marina row, which combined with the Erie Yacht Club, has a total of 2,000 slips. Niagara Pier, formerly a ship-repair site, is now the home to 38 luxury condominiums, built in the 1990s.
Our trip almost over, we passed Liberty Park, an amphitheater home to Eight Great Tuesdays and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s annual Beer on the Bay event. We also viewed Big Bertha, a water treatment facility cited a Pennsylvania Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1981. In that general area, the Port Authority is thinking of adding a number of rental boathouses.
Back on dry land, I was again impressed with all the Erie has to offer, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to learn more about my hometown. Next time, we’ll learn about Erie tourism and then on to graduation!
Erie Ambassador Program – Spring 2014 Sessions Week One – Orientation Week Two – Airport/Transportation Week Three – Arts & Culture Week Four – Education Week Five – Power & Water Week Six – Biodiesel Week Seven – Downtown Development Week Eight – Presque Isle Week Nine – Tourism Graduation!
Ann Silverthorn (Twitter: @annsilverthorn) is a versatile blogger who’s written about a wide variety of topics in a vast number of genres. She’s a proven writer on technology topics, in addition to travel, creative, and grant writing. Ann is currently working on a biography on the life of William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), the nearly forgotten poet and assistant principal of Academy High School in Erie, PA, who dedicated his life to the betterment of young people. Dimorier’s story will demonstrate how this man of humble beginnings positively influenced many lives around the world.
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