By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
CHENEY, Kan. — Cheney Reservoir and State Park will be a very busy place again this summer. Last year, the pandemic drove many out to parks and lakes to enjoy social distancing. Officials at the park expect more of the same this year. The automated reservation system introduced two years ago has allowed campers to get their reservations well ahead of time. As of February, most of the campsites for the three major holidays have been sold out.
One thing that has been an ongoing problem at the lake is also going to be addressed this summer. That is the marina boat ramp. The marina ramp on the lake's east side has been deteriorating over the past several years and it looks like work could begin on that ramp no later than early July.
Plans have been in the works to rebuild the ramp, but delays and then flooding in 2019 have made getting the work done difficult. According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, plans are to do the work in sections so as to not completely close off the ramp, which gets very busy on the weekends. Work will include removing the asphalt approaches and replacing them with concrete and repairing the in-water ramps.
Plans are also in the works to build a new boat dock at the lake's west boat ramp near the dam. Plans are to have the work finished by Labor Day.
Cheney sells out camping nearly every weekend and on a holiday weekend can take in around 50,000 visitors.
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