The Oregon State Marine Board’s Boating Facilities Section and the City of Reedsport were recently recognized with a prestigious President’s Award from the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) for Outstanding Boating Facilities Project on the boating facility redesign and redeveloped Rainbow Plaza, in Reedsport on the Umpqua River. The SOBA President’s Award is given to an agency, group, local government, or corporation for projects or activities that are judged to be innovative, useful, of high quality, unique, and/or economical. More than 40 states and U.S. Territories were represented. The City of Reedsport’s main boating facility was also its oldest, built in the 1960’s. The facility upgrade required 10 years of planning, permitting and construction, with approval required from multiple regulatory agencies, plus property acquisition for a cost of $173,000. The total project cost for construction was $1.9 million, with funding from several sources, including motorized boating dollars from the Marine Board. Key project features include 55,000 square feet of paved parking (39 trailer spaces, 11 single car), a two-lane concrete boat ramp, 328 feet of courtesy docks, 80-foot debris boom, four-stall flush restroom, 8,000 square feet of stormwater structures and landscaping, native plantings and brand-new amenities with a boat wash-down and fish cleaning stations. As with most survey, design, and construction projects of this magnitude, there were unanticipated hurdles to overcome, but with perseverance, strong partnerships and a lot of elbow grease, the facility make-over was completed on time and within budget. Instrumental to keeping the project moving were Jonathan Wright, City Administrator, Deanna Schafer, City Recorder/Administrative Assistant, and the support of the City of Reedsport Mayor Linda McCollum and Councilor DeeDee Murphy. The Marine Board provided funding assistance, in addition to surveying, design, and engineering, and permitting assistance to the City of Reedsport. Plaques were presented to the Marine Board and the City of Reedsport during the Marine Board’s quarterly Board meeting, held on October 24, at the agency’s office in Salem.
