By David Macauley of the Tidewater Review
WEST POINT — The town wants to boost water recreation opportunities by providing an automated kayak rental station at the downtown West Point Creek kayak launch.
The Town Council, at a Sept. 25 meeting, agreed to pay a one-time fee of $18,000 to Rent.Fun for a smart locker rental station that will hold four kayaks.
The council unanimously agreed to a five-year rental agreement with the company that allows paddlers to rent kayaks via a mobile app. Rent.Fun will service the station at the launch that provides access to West Point Creek. (The rental station officially opened Tuesday, November 14th.)
“All transactions are self-service and will be handled through Rent.Fun.’s payment system,” town spokeswoman Melissa Anderson said in a report to the council.
Revenue from kayak rentals will be split 50/50 between Rent.Fun and the town, the report said. Rent.Fun runs automated storage facilities across the United States, with the closest at Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield. Stations include life jackets and paddles as well as kayaks.
“I think this will be a great service to the community. A lot of people ask about renting kayaks and this will be located at a kayak launch by the old pharmacy,” Mayor Jack Lawson said.
King William County and West Point are seeking to boost recreational opportunities on the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers.
West Point boasts six launch sites, according to the West Point Paddler’s Guide produced by the town.
West Point Creek is located on 13th Street in the downtown area. It gives paddlers access to “the gentle West Point Creek.”
Glass Island Landing provides access to the Mattaponi River. Watercraft can also get onto the Mattaponi from a downtown launch at 5th Street.
Beach Park on Main and 1st Streets downtown provides access to the water at the confluence of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers.
Waterfence Landing at the end of Waterfence Road and Chain Ferry Road Beach at the end of Chain Ferry Road offer access to the Mattaponi River.
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How it works: https://www.rent.fun/town-of-westpoint-va