PORT ANGELES — The city of Port Angeles has received a $269,000 federal grant to replace the moorage floats at City Pier.
The movable docks will once again provide seasonal moorage for local mariners, tourists and tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain when visiting Port Angeles.
“I’m just ecstatic,” Parks and Recreation Director Corey Delikat said.
The old floats were pulled in October 2012 because they had become so rotten that crews could not repair them.
“Having to pull them out for safety concerns without having the money to replace them — I kind of felt bad,” Delikat said.
The city was one of 18 recipients of the competitive Federal Boating Infrastructure Tier II Grant, and one of the few to receive the full amount, Delikat said.
A required $96,000 city match will come from real estate excise taxes, officials said.
Timing of the installation of the moorage floats will depend on the arrival of the materials and availability of city parks and engineering staff.
“We’re hoping for sometime this summer,” Delikat said.
“It depends on our workload and the engineers.”
The grant will fund the replacement of two 40-foot ramps and three 80-foot ramps, enough space for at least 16 vessels, Delikat said.
The floats are also used for educational classes offered by the nearly Feiro Marine Life Center in the summer.
Delikat, who applied for the grant about six months ago, said he is often asked when the floats would be replaced.
“A lot of people use them,” he said.
The docks also enhance festivals and provide an economic value to the city, Delikat said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
