Appleton, Neenah, others team with visitors bureau to offer kayak rental stations. Here is what you need to know

Reader question: Who's behind the kayak rental stations that have been popping up in Appleton, Neenah and Fox Crossing? How much does it cost to use them?

Answer: The Rent.Fun kayak stations are a joint effort between the respective municipalities — Appleton, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Kimberly and Hortonville — and the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, which operates a grant program to pay for 50% of the equipment costs.

Pam Seidl, the bureau's executive director, said improving public access to Fox Cities waterways has been a goal since the 1990s. The kayak rental stations will serve residents and visitors alike.

"It provides another opportunity for people who maybe don't own their own equipment to try out the sport before purchasing the equipment," Seidl said. "It also gives visitors who don't necessarily always travel with a kayak on top of their car an opportunity to get out on our waterways and explore."

Customers download the Rent.Fun app and create an account. They scan the QR code on the locker to access the equipment. After the excursion on the water, they return the equipment and select "End rental" in the app.

The Rent.Fun kayak stations charge $20 for the first two hours and $10 for each additional hour. The rate includes a life jacket, paddle and kayak.

Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions

Here's a quick guide to the kayak rental stations.

Appleton

• Station location: Lower section of Telulah Park, 1300 E. Newberry St.

• Number of kayaks: 8

• Availability: End of May

• Station cost: $27,000, with the grant covering $13,500

Neenah

• Station locations: Doty Park, 701 Lincoln St., and Herb & Dolly Smith Park, 167 N. Lake St.

• Number of kayaks: 8 (4 at each park)

• Availability: Now

• Stations cost: $27,000, with the grant covering $13,500

Fox Crossing

• Station location: Fritse Park, 937 N. Lake St.

• Number of kayaks: 8

• Availability: Now

• Station cost: $27,000, with the grant covering $13,500, plus $700 for the concrete pad

Kimberly

• Station location: Sunset Park West, 200 Sunset Park Road

• Number of kayaks: 8

• Availability: End of April

• Station cost: $27,000, with the grant covering $13,500

Hortonville

• Station location: Black Otter Park, East Main Street

• Number of kayaks: 6 kayaks, plus 2 stand-up paddleboards

• Availability: End of April

• Station cost: $29,000, with the grant covering $14,500

Little Chute

Little Chute's kayak rental station predates the bureau's grant program. Its vendor is Kayak Wisconsin, and the rates for the first two hours are $20 for a single kayak and $35 for a tandem kayak.

John McDonald, director of parks, recreation and forestry, said the kayak station was part of a $112,000 project that involved the construction of a bridge over a canal to provide access to the Fox River.

• Station location: Heesakker Park, Sanitorium Road

• Number of kayaks: 3 singles and 3 tandems

• Availability: May 1

• Station cost: Part of a $112,000 project, with grants covering $36,000 ($15,000 from the Fox River Navigational System Authority, $10,000 from Fox Cities Greenways, $5,000 from Fox Communities Credit Union, $3,000 from Little Chute Jaycees and $3,000 from Little Chute Kiwanis)

Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton, Neenah and others use local grants to offer kayak rentals