Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment is working with the city of St. Joseph to develop the new Paddler Park, located at 213 Upton Drive, the site of the old city water tower.

The city began work on the riverside attraction in 2022 with modest plans to have parking, a canoe and kayak launch, and an observation deck over the river. However, Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment President Chris Cook tells us they’re now planning to add some boat slips related to a marina the group is developing on three parcels near Upton Drive, Whitwam Drive, and M-63. That’s not all.

“The building that we’ve designed looks circular, so it kind of replicates that old water tower that was there,” Cook said. “That’ll just have a couple restrooms in it and some space to rent out kayaks, little office in there. But on the site itself, kayak launch and then all the items that were in the original plan that the city had put together. So there’s a little bat house, there’s lawn area to have picnics.”

Cook said the property will remain 100% city-owned, so it would be all public in perpetuity. The city says all developments at the park are being planned in coordination with adjacent property owners.

Commissioners signed off on the Harbor Shores proposal back in June.