Ceremony set to open Centerville dock

The TECHE Project announced that the installation of a floating dock in Centerville is now complete.
The TECHE Project and St. Mary Parish will unveil the trailhead amenities at a dedication ceremony Tuesday at Schwan Park.
Bayou Teche has the prestigious distinction of being the only National Water Trail in Louisiana and one of only 33 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 Bayou Teche in an elite group of waterways and will increase recreational tourism for the 15 communities and four parishes the 135-mile bayou touches.
The paddle trail is parallel with the state’s Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway and is part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. The TECHE Project nonprofit organization serves as the paddle trail manager and is working with local communities, parish and state governments to develop a first-class paddle trail.
Patti Holland, council member with The TECHE Project, said, “The Paddle Trail provides access to Bayou Teche for paddlers of all ages and skill levels and aims to fulfill our mission to develop low-impact recreation that promotes tourism in communities along Bayou Teche.
"The TECHE Project greatly appreciates the support that St. Mary Parish has provided to implement the Centerville dock and other paddle trail amenities.”
The Centerville access dock was installed via a grant from the Federal Highway Adminis-tration’s Recreational Trails Program, administered through the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
According to St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff, “The Centerville dock represents the last of five trailheads installed in St. Mary Parish, joining the Charenton, Baldwin, Franklin and Patterson trailheads. St. Mary Parish welcomes tourists and locals alike to come explore the beauty of Bayou Teche and the cultural uniqueness of the communities that lie along this famous bayou.”
Currently, there are 12 official access docks installed on Bayou Teche, and when completed, the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail will have a total of 15 access points for paddle trips, ranging from six to 12 miles in length. Information kiosks with maps and community stories are also part of each trailhead.
The Centerville kiosk was funded in part by a grant from the Atchafalaya Trace Commission, an ongoing partner in the development of the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail.
More information, including a full list of dock locations, can be found at techeproject.org.