FAIRMONT — Kayak and paddleboard rentals, a popular amenity for water sports enthusiasts, will not be available in Fairmont this summer.

The Fairmont Lakes Foundation, which originated the rental program, opted to suspend the program this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sommer Outdoors handles the rental process and distributes safety vests and paddles. The kayaks and paddleboards are then picked up at a kiosk in Gomsrud Park. While Sommer Outdoors would be able to sterilize the safety equipment and paddles, there was no efficient way to keep the paddleboards and kayaks sterilized in the kiosk.

After the Fairmont Lakes Foundation board of directors weighed the rental program process with the added safety measures needed this year, it decided to temporarily halt the program.

“Until we hear differently, the board opted to suspend rentals,” said Mike Katzenmeyer, chairman of the Fairmont Lakes Foundation.

It was a difficult decision for the board to make.

“The kayak rentals were very successful last year,” he said.

The foundation partnered with Sommer Outdoors to start the rental program in July 2018. Last year was the first full season that offered the watercraft from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Justin Sommer of Sommer Outdoors reports that the rentals were popular last year. While there were frequent rentals during the week, the kiosk was empty most weekends.

He handled 63 rental transactions, with many involving at least two of the watercraft, but there also were occasions — such as family gatherings or groups of friends — when a single transaction involved both paddleboards and all six kayaks in the kiosk.

“The Lakes Foundation made some money on it, and anytime there’s a profit involved, it’s successful,” Sommer said.

“All the money goes right back into the lakes,” Katzenmeyer said.

The money is used for various projects to improve the quality of the lakes, such as docks for increased public access. Another example is the foundation’s lake cleanup endeavor. Up to 50 volunteers gather in the spring and again in the fall at a designated lake bank section and haul out truckloads of old appliances, electronics, tires, docks and other debris that has been dumped in the lake over the years.

Because of social distancing guidelines, the spring cleanup had to be canceled.