Lakewood opened the ramp to the public last weekend, in part to ease high usage at the lake’s other public boat launch near Tillicum.

A new full-time launch at the 5-acre park won’t open until the end of the year.

Mary Dodsworth, Lakewood’s Park and Recreation director, said the city purchased a temporary float system for another project about three years ago, but it ended up staying in storage.

Parks workers figured it could be used temporarily at American Lake Park and rigged it for weekend launching.

“What we decided to do was kind of ‘MacGyver’ it,” Dodsworth said, referring to the popular 1980s television character who was resourceful with everyday household items.

The launch opened July 19, and a healthy number of boaters used it, Dodsworth said, although she didn’t have an exact number.

The launch will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday until late September. Workers will then shut it down to do the last stages of an $850,000 makeover on the main launch.

After September, the city will likely install the temporary launch permanently at Harry Todd Park, Dodsworth said.

The new launch is what boaters have been waiting for since last October, as access points to 1,125-acre American Lake are limited. Before it shut down, the launch regularly handled about 2,700 visits a year.

The city had expected to complete the improvements to the 30-year-old launch by mid-2006, but delays in the permitting process and a lack of money prevented that.

Instead, the city had to finish the work in phases. That includes replacing old pilings and installing new floats, gangways and some bulkheads.

Officials had advised boaters to use the Tillicum launch, which is managed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. City workers noticed it was getting heavy use this season.

“With the weather, I know there’s been a lot more activity there the last couple weeks,” Dodsworth said.

Lakewood hopes to open the new launch by the end of the year. Boaters will have to pay $10 per use.

“We’re going to open with a red bow,” Dodsworth joked. “People forget how old it was and how much work it needed. It had really outlived its life expectancy.”

For Lee Wyatt of University Place, the new launch’s opening can’t come too soon.

The 39-year-old was one of about 20 boaters at the Tillicum launch backing their vessels in and pulling them out of the water shortly after noon Friday.

He said he called Lakewood earlier in the day to ask about the American Lake launch. He said he’s disappointed the permanent launch has been delayed, but he’s willing to wait a few months for the opening.

“It’s easier for me because it’s 15 minutes to my house instead of 25 minutes,” he said. “But if it takes longer, so be it.”

Brent Champaco: 253-597-8653

How to get involved

WHAT: Planning meeting on proposed U-shaped dock and pier at American Lake Park

WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday

WHERE: Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street S.W.

WHAT ELSE: Residents can review a proposal to build a U-shaped dock, discuss neighborhood issues and give input for the final design.