JEANERETTE, La. --- The TECHE Project is excited to announce that the installation of a floating dock in Jeanerette is now complete. The TECHE Project, City of Jeanerette and the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau will unveil the dock during a private ceremony (due to social distancing guidelines) at T.J. Viator Memorial Park on July 30 at 9 a.m.
All media are invited to attend for a photo opportunity and interviews with Jeanerette Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Parish President M. Larry Richard, representatives of The TECHE Project and Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Fran Thibodeaux.
The dock installation was implemented via a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program administered through the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
Joining floating docks in Port Barre, Arnaudville, Breaux Bridge, St. Martinville, Loreauville, Charenton and Patterson, the Jeanerette dock is located at what is known as Jeanerette City Park. It provides access to Bayou Teche for paddlers of all ages and skill levels and aims to fulfill The TECHE Project's mission to develop low-impact recreation that promotes tourism in communities along Bayou Teche.
Bayou Teche:
Bayou Teche has the prestigious distinction of being the only National Water Trail in Louisiana—and one of only 21 nationally recognized water trails in the nation. That honor was bestowed in 2015 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Designation as a National Water Trail places the Teche in an elite group of waterways and will increase recreational tourism for the 15 communities and four parishes the 135-mile bayou touches.
Paddle Trail:
As planned, the Bayou Teche Paddle trail will have a total of 15 official access points for paddle trips, as short as seven miles and as long as 130 miles. Information kiosks with maps and community stories are also part of the infrastructure at each site, funded in part by a $46,000 grant from the Atchafalaya Trace Commission. The Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Gravois family graciously sponsored the Jeanerette information kiosk in support of their customers, citizens and visitors.
The paddle trail lies parallel with the state’s Bayou Teche Scenic Byway and is part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. The TECHE Project nonprofit organization serves as the manager of the National Paddle Trail and is working with local communities, parish and state governments to develop a first-class paddle trail.
“The addition of Jeanerette really helps move us toward our objective of having a paddle trail dock in all of the Bayou Teche trail towns," said Patti Holland, The TECHE Project council member. "We thank Jeanerette Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. and Iberia Parish President M. Larry Richard for all of their support and assistance in providing access for Jeanerette. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau and the family of Jimmy Gravois for financial sponsorship of the information kiosk.”
About The TECHE Project:
The TECHE (Ecology, Culture and History Education) Project started in 2008 in St. Landry Parish. The nonprofit, membership-based organization is made up of individuals passionate about making Bayou Teche a healthier waterway for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tubing and even swimming. They advocate for improved water quality in the Bayou Teche watershed and have removed 54 tons of garbage to date. The TECHE Project encourages everyone to enrich, explore and embrace the Bayou Teche.
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