“Life is better when drifting down the Little Miami River,” says Mark Bersani of River Dogs Paddlesports. For more than two decades, his family has helped friends and families get away from it all in a canoe or kayak with Loveland Paddlesports—now, a new South Lebanon location allows them to serve both beginners and enthusiasts even better than ever.
“Our staff in Loveland is fantastic and well-experienced—so the timing was perfect,” Mark explains. “South Lebanon was an ideal location with great river access, abundant parking and a beautiful stretch of river.”
Mark’s family ran its original River Dogs outpost in Milford for a number of years before realizing that limited parking prevented it from becoming a viable business.
Then, when the Morgan’s Canoe family decided to sell their business earlier this year, Mark knew that a lot of people would soon be looking for a new place to paddle.
So did the city of South Lebanon.
“The city has truly made us feel welcome,” Mark smiles. “They’ve gone above and beyond to offer facilities and prepare the property for our operation. It’s been a blessing—we’re grateful for the wonderful partnership.”
Mark points to community as being vital for any region, and explains how giving back where his team operates has always been a priority.
“The river provides our family a place to do what we love—in return, we work hard to preserve and protect this incredible place, hosting numerous river cleanups each summer to remove trash and debris that don’t belong.”
Mark estimates that volunteers at those cleanups have removed more than 1,500 tires over the last 21 years.
River Dogs and Loveland Paddlesports also partner with The Adventure Crew, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that encourages urban teens to experience the outdoors.
“Every spring and fall, we’ve hosted the Crew as they kayak the Little Miami or local lakes,” he says. “It’s incredible to see how the students love the outdoors and revel in the joys of simple play in a natural environment. The phones get put away, the smiles light up.”
Additionally, River Dogs plans to be involved in community events like South Lebanon’s 4th of July Celebration and their Christmas in the Village Horse Parade, as well as Paddlefest—where 2,000+ paddlers enjoy the Ohio River every August.
Aside from community support and a respect for shared natural surroundings, River Dogs Paddlesports is also all about top-notch gear. In fact, it will be the first and only outfitter in the area to offer the Crescent Primo as a rental kayak. “It has a super comfortable framed seat that will keep you dryer—plus adjustable foot pegs, paddle holders, water bottle holders and more,” Mark proudly shares.
Mark’s mantra? The river is for everyone.
“Kayaking and canoeing are fun activities to do with friends and families, as well as perfect outings for companies, school groups, sports teams or scouts,” he says. “The section of river we operate on is perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers both.”
But most of all, Mark maintains it's a remarkable natural resource that should be appreciated.
“When you spend time on this river, you can’t help but feel relaxed and peaceful.”
RiverDogsPaddlesports.com | 210 S. High St, South Lebanon | 513.748.3647