Water recreation lovers have been paddling down the Yellow River for years, but the city of Porterdale is making water activities a little more accessible.

The kayak launch will have its official ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 14 at the kayak launch, which is in the Yellow River Park, located off the intersection of Peachtree, Hemlock and Railroad streets in Porterdale. The ribbon cutting will be accompanied with a BBQ lunch.

The launch coincides with the second summer paddle of Mellow on the Yellow series, according to Porterdale City Manager Bob Thomson.

“It’s gonna be a big day,” Thomson said.

Porterdale’s kayak launch was made possible by a grant to support recreation and trails that the city applied for in 2011. The grant is worth about $130,000.

“It’s the first tangible evidence on the ground of that grant,” Thomson said. “We’re all excited about winning grants, but it’s nice to see how it’s used.”

In 2012, Newton Trails helped the city with a technical assistance grant that allowed the National Park Service and a landscape architect to plan such activities. After a meeting about where to put the ramp and three or four design variations, Thomson said, the launch was put out to bid.

Thomson said the city wants to capitalize on river recreation and Porterdale’s cultural heritage.