Busy Tri-Cities boat launch gets major overhaul just in time for summer
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- Kennewick opened a renovated Columbia Park East Boat Launch after a $728,000 project.
- New aluminum docks replaced rotted 1999 wooden floats to improve durability and traction.
- Legislative grants from the state Department of Commerce fully funded the project.
One of the region’s most popular Columbia River boat launches got a big facelift just in time for the busy summer season.
Kennewick city staff and lawmakers cut the ribbon Thursday on the new East Boat Launch in Columbia Park. Nearby restrooms and parking lot lighting will see $174,000 in improvements later this summer for a total $727,000 in improvements to the area.
The project was fully funded by legislative grants through the state Department of Commerce. City money and a grant covered the replacement design at the Lampson Pits docks, just west of the blue bridge. Kennewick originally asked the Legislature for $1.3 million to improve the area.
The free launch is a focal point for the annual Water Follies boat races, the Salmon Summit and other community events.
Kennewick Mayor Jason McShane called it an amenity for the entire region, and said projects like the launch help build community and provide “wholesome activities” for families.
“A boat launch can mean a lot of things to a lot of people,” McShane said. “Whether it’s a fishing guide boat, getting out and fishing, or whether it’s going out and recreating, doing some tubing out here. ... We’re really excited for the opportunity for more and more people to use this.”
The project was several years in the making, said John Noble, the city’s fleet and facilities manager.
Design and permitting occurred several years ago, and the request to the Legislature for funding was made last year. It was put out for bid in the fall and fabricated, then installed in recent weeks. Tapani Construction completed the work.
The original launch along with the lot and restrooms were built in 1999, though the spot has regularly been part of Water Follies since 1966, Noble said.
“The 1999 floats were wood construction, they’d rotted significantly. If anybody had been out on ‘em, you (didn’t) want too many people because they were about to sink. The beavers had chewed up the foam underneath them, so that made this a high priority project for us,” he said.
The new docks are aluminum with better traction, and are anticipated to last much longer. They will accumulate less buildup of debris, and are translucent to prevent predators of young salmon from hiding in them.
State Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick said the project was completed on-time and under-budget.
“The best thing that we can do is bring back state dollars, that everyone is paying into, to help our communities,” she said.
