GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Delta County residents and visitors now have a new way to enjoy the outdoors.
Pioneer Trail Park has installed a Rent.Fun kayak rental kiosk by the boat launch. Guests can scan a QR code with their smartphones, then check out a kayak for a set period of time. Prices are listed on the kiosk.
The kiosk includes eight kayaks. Each rental includes a paddle and life vests, equipping kayakers with everything they need for an afternoon on the Escanaba River.
“It’s a really nice place to get outside, connect with the outdoors, and just celebrate the place that we love and experience everything it has to offer,” said Delta County Parks Manager Heather LeDuc. “You can see turtles out there. There’s beavers, otters, cranes. There’s also a lot of history on the river. If you paddle down to the Black Bridge, you’ll see iron ore pellets down there. The U.P. was built on mining and iron ore. We promise there will be a great experience anytime that you get out on the water.”
In addition to providing a new recreational opportunity, the kiosk will support daily operations at Pioneer Trail Park.
“The parks don’t run on any tax dollars, which is something a lot of people don’t realize,” LeDuc explained. “We manage everything through the revenue that we create. Because it’s a third-party rental, it’s just a small percentage that goes to us, but it will help us to maintain this and keep it going.”
Kayaks will be available to rent seasonally during daytime hours. Delta County Parks plans to install a kayak launch next spring.
This is Rent.Fun’s first in the Upper Peninsula, but the company has more than 300 locations across the country. The company offers a membership program that allows participants to rent kayaks, bikes, and other outdoor gear from any of its kiosks. To learn more about Rent.Fun, click here.
