The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will begin constructing an accessible full-service restroom at the Lake Flower Boat Launch beginning Monday, Feb. 10, the day after the end of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, DEC Regional Director Bob Stegemann announced today.

“We are pleased to provide this final touch to improvements at DEC’s Lake Flower Boat Launch,” said Director Stegemann. “The restroom will benefit boaters using the boat launch and the water quality of waterbodies accessed from the boat launch.”

The restroom will be built in the western corner of the boat launch property near the sidewalk along River Street and is expected to be ready for use during next year’s boating season. DEC will connect the restroom to the municipal water and sewer supplies. The facility, with restrooms for both men and women, will have four toilets and two sinks.

Due to safety concerns resulting from operation of heavy equipment and storage of construction materials, the boat launch will be closed to public use beginning Feb. 10, and will remain closed during construction. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

The entrance road and the parking spaces near Pontiac Bay will remain open until the Ice Palace comes down.

Boaters will need to use the Second Pond Boat Launch and the Lower Lock to access Kiwassa Lake, Oseetah Lake, Lake Flower, and portions of the Saranac River between when the ice is off the water and completion of the project.

The timing of the project seeks to minimize interference with the Winter Carnival and the time the boat launch is closed during the boating season.