Hannibal’s Nipper Park ramp closed for dredging
Published 9:14 pm Wednesday, October 21, 2026
HANNIBAL — The boat ramp and marina at Nipper Park will be closed during the day while Hannibal Parks and Recreation crews dredge the marina, the department announced.
Boaters will be able to use the marina ramp each evening once the day’s dredging is finished. The department said the length of the closure will depend on weather and complications.
The department bought a Mud Cat MC 115D dredge from Ellicott Dredge Technologies several years ago. The machine vacuums up sediment and debris and pumps it to a dredge pit south of the marina. The sediment becomes fill soil that can be recycled throughout the park system.
Marinas naturally fill with silt, sand, and mud because of currents and river runoff, the department said. The buildup reduces water depth, making it unsafe for vessels to enter or exit. Dredging helps maintain safe navigation, protect infrastructure, and comply with environmental regulations, according to the department.
