Dock placed at Globe Mill Pond in Tecumseh, canoes, kayak, paddleboat for rent during summertime

By MICKEY ALVARADO

A brand new aluminum dock was recently installed on Globe Mill Pond, behind the Tecumseh Community Center, giving boating enthusiasts much easier access to the waterway adjacent to Indian Crossing Trails Park.

Many visitors already use the boat launch where the L-shaped dock was placed, and Tecumseh Parks and Recreation Director Pat Paul Sorise hopes the new addition will prod more visitors into trying out a canoe trip on Tecumseh's premier fishing pond. No boat? No problem. A canoe rental station has also been installed.

“It's something we've thought about doing for quite a while,” said Sorise. “We'd like to see more people using the waterways.”

While the docking is brand new to the pond canoes are certainly not. The department began renting them last year on a limited basis. Now renting one is easier than ever with the cost to use one lowered to only five bucks for four hours. A deposit is required but it too has been reduced in half to just $50. When the canoe is brought back undamaged the deposit is returned.

“The likelihood that we would be keeping that is slim to none,” said Sorise about the deposit. “It's there basically so someone doesn't steal the canoe or do major damage to it.”
A paddleboat is also available for rental at the Tecumseh Park (the Pit) for the same limited cost.

Boaters who'd like to spend the day on the water may also do so with the cost for rental doubled to $10 for eight hours of use. The canoes and paddleboat are available during weekdays as well as the weekend. Sorise said that the department would even work it out if someone wanted keep one of the canoes overnight or for an extended weekend. A rental sign is going to be placed near the dock giving the basic information for rentals as well as a couple of numbers to call if interested in renting during the weekend when the parks and recreation office is closed.

Both locations are open to boats but no motor may be used on either body of water. Trolling motors are allowed.

“It was always something that was in the budget,” said Sorise. “It was just a matter of when we could jump at it. We got a little push from the city Manager. He [Kevin Welch] wanted it in before Labor Day.”

Globe Mill Pond is a fairly shallow body of water, ranging from a depth of only a few inches to approximately 30 feet. It's fed by both the Raisin River and Evan's Creek and has a spillway connecting it with Standish Pond to the northwest. Fish in the pond include Pan fish, Bass and Pike.

To reserve one of the three canoes, the lone yellow kayak or the paddleboat, call the department at 423.5602.