Renovated Hannibal Marina Reopens after Flood Delays

In 2018, the City of Hannibal, Missouri, decided to move its marina as part of a renovation of its waterfront. The 70-slip marina sat right in the middle of a public park, dividing the space in two and creating a safety hazard. By relocating the marina 100 yards to the south, the City wanted to provide better access to the entire riverfront park and to keep both boaters and park visitors safer. Although the City hoped to have the work completed in about a year, the project was significantly delayed by flooding along the Mississippi River in the spring of 2019.

The renovated riverfront finally reopened in November 2020, and the marina will be ready to welcome boaters at the start of the boating season in April 2021. The final step, running electric service to the slips, will be completed this winter.

The marina’s basic footprint hasn’t changed, since the City reused the docks from the original location, and it still offers a gas dock. But the City did reconfigure the slips somewhat and cut their number from 70 to 50 because of reduced demand. “We have floodgates along the river, and as soon as the floodgates go in there’s no access to the marina,” explained Andy Dorian, the City’s Director of Parks and Recreation. Many boaters are choosing to go to marinas at nearby lakes instead.

The renovation along the Mississippi riverfront did add some additional linear dockage, however. “We have two large docks and gangways for the cruise boats that come here, and when they are not being used, they are really handy for large houseboats,” Dorian added.