Pontoon returns to Ellen Cove at Middleton Beach marking the start of summer 2024

An iconic piece of Middleton Beach waterfront has been restored with the beloved pontoon returning to its position in Ellen Cove on Thursday.

The fire-engine red deck was floated back to its place and moored inside the shark net on Thursday in time for summer.

Its return marks one year since the City of Albany temporarily removed it, citing “persistent easterly winds” and “substantial sand deposits” making the water too shallow and posing a risk to community safety.

Alisha Barton, 12, said she was “pretty excited” to use the floating pontoon as the weather warms up.

“I used to go there lots when I was younger and jump off with my friends so it sucked when they took it away,” she said.

“We do diving competitions and rock it around so you can flip off.

“I’m pretty excited to go back and bring my friends when it’s hot.”

In a Facebook post, the City of Albany said the pontoon could only stay if the water depth remained high, and might be removed if the sand banks rose.

The pontoon also took a hiatus between the summers of 2020 and 2022 due to shallow waters.