July 10, 2008
Everyone’s invited to grand opening of waterfront
Welcome to the grand re-opening of the UW’s southwest waterfront.
From 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 17, the UW will host a campus and community celebration of the recently remodeled and rejuvenated region of the campus near Portage Bay just east of the Bryant Building. The celebration will include live Latin American music, refreshments and a brief introduction to kayak paddling.
The old marina on that site, which was constructed a century ago from cedar logs, has been replaced by a more environmentally friendly facility featuring a low-skid deck made entirely from recyclable plastic grating that maximizes natural light penetration to the water, thus creating a more comfortable environment for fish, particularly salmon. Some 156 wooden piles have been replaced by just 51 steel pilings. The logs that were part of the previous marina have mostly been recycled into usable lumber or repurposed for stream enhancement programs and beach restoration projects administered by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A concrete bulkhead that fronted 140 feet of the area has been removed and replaced by a naturally sloping bank featuring native plant species.
The $3 million project also provides enhancements for Agua Verde Restaurant and its neighbor, the Agua Verde Paddle Club, that have rented space near the marina since 1996. Portable toilets have been replaced by permanent restrooms. The kayak launch facility has been improved, allowing the company to serve more customers and provide greater safety.
In addition, the area now features a free public access hand carried boat launch intended for kayaks, canoes and boats for rowing or sculling. The UW also added a pump-out station for boaters.
The 71 marina slips, ranging in size from 25 to 50 feet, are already completely rented, many to previous tenants who wished to return after the remodel.
The remodel was conducted in a process that was as environmentally sensitive as possible. To minimize the impact on salmon runs, the work proceeded between Oct. 1 and April 15. Most of the dock system was assembled off site and barged to its location. Also, the steel piles were vibrated into place as much as possible to minimize noise for neighbors.
