Organizers urge life-jacket use at Utah Lake safety paddle
June 09, 2026 | Utah Lake Authority, Utah State Agencies, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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Organizers of a community paddling event at Utah Lake on Saturday stressed the importance of wearing life jackets and highlighted a life-jacket loaner program introduced after two local deaths.
"So, this event is really important every year because it reminds people of the importance of water safety," a presenter said, describing the paddle as both a way for people to experience the lake and to remember family members who have died there. The presenter named two women, Priscilla Biancowsky and Sophia Hernandez, saying they "lost their lives on the lake" in 2020 and that their families asked Utah County for a life-jacket loaner station.
Organizers said participants would launch together from Vineyard Beach and paddle about 2.5 miles to American Fork Marina, where an educational booth and a community celebration awaited. "Everybody is just going to launch together and paddle 2.5 miles back across to American Fork Marina and enjoy the educational booth and the community celebration," an organizer said.
A staff member at the event said volunteers had finished marking and tagging the program's jackets and that life-jacket loaner stations are positioned around Utah Lake. "We just finished marking and tagging our life jackets. We have life jackets, loner stations all over Utah Lake for you guys to use," the staff member said, adding that jackets are rotated and inspected so anyone can borrow and return them.
A presenter described the program's early scale and related outreach: when the loaner program began it had five stations around the lake, and organizers launched a related effort called "Paddle with Care" around 2020–2021; they said they have stayed in contact with the families affected by past drownings. The presenter added that events like the paddle can increase awareness and "maybe save a life out on the water."
One participant noted recent improvements at the marina, saying American Fork Marina received "over a $5 million upgrade in 2025" that includes a sandy beach, new bathrooms, a playground and improved access for anglers and boaters.
Organizers closed by urging people heading onto the water to take safety precautions. "If I could speak straight to anybody going out on the water... tell them to wear your life jacket," a presenter said, and the event ended with a final reminder: "Make sure to wear your life jackets."
The paddle and related outreach are ongoing community efforts to promote water safety around Utah Lake.
"So, this event is really important every year because it reminds people of the importance of water safety," a presenter said, describing the paddle as both a way for people to experience the lake and to remember family members who have died there. The presenter named two women, Priscilla Biancowsky and Sophia Hernandez, saying they "lost their lives on the lake" in 2020 and that their families asked Utah County for a life-jacket loaner station.
Organizers said participants would launch together from Vineyard Beach and paddle about 2.5 miles to American Fork Marina, where an educational booth and a community celebration awaited. "Everybody is just going to launch together and paddle 2.5 miles back across to American Fork Marina and enjoy the educational booth and the community celebration," an organizer said.
A staff member at the event said volunteers had finished marking and tagging the program's jackets and that life-jacket loaner stations are positioned around Utah Lake. "We just finished marking and tagging our life jackets. We have life jackets, loner stations all over Utah Lake for you guys to use," the staff member said, adding that jackets are rotated and inspected so anyone can borrow and return them.
A presenter described the program's early scale and related outreach: when the loaner program began it had five stations around the lake, and organizers launched a related effort called "Paddle with Care" around 2020–2021; they said they have stayed in contact with the families affected by past drownings. The presenter added that events like the paddle can increase awareness and "maybe save a life out on the water."
One participant noted recent improvements at the marina, saying American Fork Marina received "over a $5 million upgrade in 2025" that includes a sandy beach, new bathrooms, a playground and improved access for anglers and boaters.
Organizers closed by urging people heading onto the water to take safety precautions. "If I could speak straight to anybody going out on the water... tell them to wear your life jacket," a presenter said, and the event ended with a final reminder: "Make sure to wear your life jackets."
The paddle and related outreach are ongoing community efforts to promote water safety around Utah Lake.
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