Westport Boat Launch Opens

The project started on July 1, 2021 with completion of boating facility on Feb. 1, 2022. The park is now open.

After the first discussions of this boating facility project and the land donation of the Westport property in 2004 with Georgia Pacific, the Parks Department is finally moving towards construction of the new Westport County Park Boating facility.  In 2014 we finally completed the 27 acre land donation process with Georgia Pacific, which allowed the county to apply for grants for design and construction of the new boating facility and day-use park.  Since 2014 the Parks Department has received several grants for the permitting, engineering design and cultural studies of the project site. In February of 2021 we received a $640,000 grant from the Oregon State Marine Board for the purchase of the boarding floats, short term tie-up docks, ADA accessible kayak launch dock,  gangway, restroom, and the precast concrete tiles for the new boat ramp surface. Our new gangway just arrived on site and the other docks are arriving soon! This is a  120 foot gangway that will be used to access the 300 foot long short term tie-up dock and ADA kayak launch dock.  The arrival of the gangway hit a small glitch when the delivery company came down Westport Ferry Road instead of Old Mill Town road off of Hwy 30 in Westport.  The trailer got stuck in the ditch making the turn from Westport Ferry Road onto Old Mill Town Road. The trailer tipped over enough that it was dragging on the ground. The truck driver managed to get things backed up after a few battles with the trailer and they turned the vehicle around down at the Teevin Brothers site by the ferry landing and made their way back through town to the park.

The Parks Department  received the final grant awards that will fund the construction phase of the boating facility. We received a $679,825 grant from the Oregon State Marine Board and a $1,000,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The County is providing a cash match of $559,941 for the construction phase of the project. Upon completion of the boating facility we will turn our attention to a day-use area that will provide a playground and picnic area.