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Harveston Pedal Boats Have New Operator, New Boats, New Lease On Lake

Harveston Lake's pedal boats have changed from the pontoon style to the typical two-seater variety.

By Charlene Lee and Arielle Parfait, Publishers - Macaroni KID Temecula-Murrieta-French Valley July 7, 2024

Paddle boat rentals have returned to Harveston Lake just in time for the hottest week of the summer. Temecula has partnered with a new rental company, Pedal Port, which has stepped in to fill the gap after a lengthy closure of Harveston pedal boat rentals.  

Harveston Lake, a non-body contact lake within Temecula's Harveston housing development at 29005 Lake House Road, is idyllic for walking, fishing, and pedaling on a balmy day. The pedal boat rental hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to sunset, and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to sunset.

You'll notice a change in the pedal boats offered here when you go. Gone are the large pontoon style, with multiple seat options, swapped out for the typical two-seater variety.

According to Mike Wooten, City of Temecula Community Services Manager, the boat rentals stopped in the fall as the city worked to address complaints with the previous pedal boat rental service. Though that service offered large pontoon pedal boats for rent, that style of pedal boat went with the previous owner.

There is a limited supply (of the large pontoons) nationwide and they are quite costly to procure and maintain (which is likely why they are very uncommon in that industry).

At least one four-seater pontoon boat is available for rent as of July 2.

Overall, the city hoped to enhance the boating experience for all visitors at Harveston Lake, he said. During the closure, the city also made necessary upgrades and improvements to the rental service and updated the office.

Now, lower rental prices allow more riders to rent boats, and smaller pedal boats would enable the city to offer more boats on the water. - Mini Pontoon Boat prices:$10/kid, $15/adult  Pedal Boats prices:$6/kid, $12/adult

Pedal Port brings with them a wealth of expertise and a commitment to providing exceptional service, making them an ideal addition to the community.

According to Pedal Port, life jackets are required for riding, and a weight limit exists for safety reasons. Children must be at least 25-30 lbs to ride in the boats.  Learn more about boat rentals, please visit www.pedalport.biz, TemeculaCA.gov/Boats. Stay tuned for additional Temecula Community Services programming by following @TemeculaParksAndRec on social media.

Check out our reel with some of our Mackids enjoying Harveston Lake in the new Pedal boats:

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