Tempe Town Lake welcomes swan boats with free rentals Wednesday

PHOENIX – Tempe Town Lake is turning into Swan Lake — sort of.

Tempe Boat Rentals has added a flock of swan-shaped pedal boats to its fleet and is celebrating with free rentals Wednesday morning.

The company that rents watercraft out of Tempe Beach Park, near Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue, will offer free rides on pedal boats, standup paddleboards and kayaks from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The swan boats seat up to four adults and regularly rent out for $40 per hour and $55 for two hours.

U.S. rowers Seth Weil and Henrik Rummel, who have been training on the lake for the 2020 Olympics, will be on hand from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.

In addition, city boating officials will be available to provide tips plus information about paddleboard, kayaking and rowing classes and clubs.

Last month, buoy lines on the western end of the reservoir near the Tempe Arts Center were moved to increase the water available for recreation by a quarter-mile.

That came after the eastern buoys were moved in 2018, adding a half-mile to the lake, which opened in 1999.

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