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Clover Island's face lift is reason to celebrate, the Port of Kennewick thinks, and it plans to do just that May 20.
By then, the $1.12 million construction project -- a lighthouse, an arched gateway, a 10,000-square-foot public plaza and about 300 feet of sidewalk to link to an existing city sidewalk near the island entrance -- will be complete.
Also by that time, the port plans to have installed a new bronze artwork, "Call of the River," by Rodd Ambroson of Joseph, Ore., to reflect historic Kennewick.
The improvements are expected to enhance the visual appeal of the 16-acre island, help the public connect with the Columbia River and make Clover Island a destination, port officials say.
Visitors won't be able go up to the viewing platform atop the lighthouse, which doesn't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law requires all structures to provide access to people with disabilities, and the absence of an elevator led the city to limit access to maintenance purposes only.
Officials said they discussed having an elevator, but design, liability, cost and timing issues prevented them from pursuing it.
The port is looking into the possibility of seeking an exemption from ADA requirements, and installing two high-definition cameras on top of the lighthouse connected to a TV panel on the ground to provide a 360-degree view to those unable or not interested in climbing the 84 spiral stairs inside the lighthouse, said Tim Arntzen, the port's executive director.
He expects to have an expert legal opinion soon.
"We'll have an answer in two or three weeks," he said. "It may not be the one we want."
Meanwhile, the port continues to get a lot of positive feedback from out-of-town lighthouse lovers, said Tana Bader-Inglima, the port's director of governmental relations and marketing.
Recently, 10 members of the Mukilteo Historical Society came to visit the lighthouse and were impressed. One member, Bev Schreiber, wrote in an e-mail to Bader-Inglima, "I personally, really like the whole look of the structure. It's very 21st century. I know of no others that have the LED lighting mid-way on their tower. The stainless-steel band is a wonderful interruption of the traditional daymark!" Schreiber said she has traveled to and photographed more than 400 U.S. lighthouses for her paintings.
The plan to spruce up Clover Island also includes construction of fishing and viewing platforms, additional pathways, removing concrete from the island's edges, planting native vegetation and creating an undulating shoreline that uses large woody debris to enhance fish habitat.
Some of that work will start in September, thanks to a $500,000 state grant, said Larry Peterson, the port's director of planning and development.
Construction of condos and retail space by private developers, who are expected to be the port's partners in shoreline improvements, is also part of the development plan.
The latest improvements will help kick off serious revitalization efforts on Columbia Drive and the nearby area, Arntzen said.
It's also the first step to making the Tri-Cities a world-class waterfront market, he said. "We have just scratched the surface. (But it'll show) we really are serious about doing this right."
For more information about the celebration, call 586-1186, ext. 2.
-- Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tricityherald.com
