PORT TOWNSEND — The state Parks and Recreation Commission will host an open house Wednesday to discuss the Fort Worden marine area design.
The discussion — set from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Friends’ Barn at Fort Townsend State Park, 1370 Old Fort Townsend Road — will focus primarily on the boat launch at Fort Worden State Park, but information also will be presented on the current plan to unify the marine area, according to a press release.
Toni Droscher of the state parks and recreation communications office said five stations will be available with posters and an opportunity for the public to learn about the proposed project.
The meeting will continue the public discussion following two events earlier this year at the Fort Worden Commons.
“There have been a lot of questions about the boat ramp itself, so they’ll be trying to address some questions people have and present information,” Droscher said.
The five stations will include general topics such as:
• Natural resources and the environment.
• The preferred alternative of the marine area design.
• A visual rendering of the proposed pier and boat ramp.
• How to address existing parking and traffic concerns.
• The next steps in the process, which include permitting and design.
The state also will go through an environmental review process.
The preferred alternative proposes the removal and reconstruction of both the pier and boat launch at Fort Worden.
The proposed pier would be about 6,100 square feet and include a 12-foot-wide walkway that leads to deep water, according to the project website at tinyurl.com/PDN-FW MarineArea.
The location of the reconstructed pier would be partially within the existing footprint.
The existing boat launch would be replaced by a single-lane, elevated option that will decrease the ramp’s footprint over the water and help restore sand movement, the project website states.
No formal public testimony will take place, but written comments are encouraged. Comments also may be submitted online through the project website.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsula dailynews.com.
