Crescent Bar ready for Memorial Day

CRESCENT BAR — With years of controversy, litigation and construction delays now in the rear-view mirror, the public recreation facilities at Crescent Bar will be open for Memorial Day weekend. In fact, the campground is sold out for the weekend.

Grant County PUD parks and recreation supervisor Jerri Mickle said the campground is already sold out for July and August as well. The campground is not the only public recreation facility, of course, and the two boat launches, the picnic areas and swimming beaches will be available for day use all summer.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate substantial completion of the project is scheduled for June 2.

Upgraded wastewater treatment and water systems are still under construction. Because the water system still must be completed, only dry camping is available at the campground this summer, Mickle said.

Total project cost will be about $35 million, Mickle said, including the water and wastewater treatment system. The PUD leases property to an RV park and condominium development on Crescent Bar Island, and the agreement that allowed leaseholders to stay on the island stipulates that lessees will pay most of the cost, up to 90 percent, of the water and wastewater treatment upgrades.

There’s a brand-new fuel dock, a two-lane dock for boarding and unloading, and boat launch areas, one on-island, one off-island. The on-island boat launch has its own loading and unloading dock. There’s a separate dock for businesses renting watercraft. There are 47 parking spaces on the riverbank, and another 71 on the island.

Fishing will be allowed from the riverbank, but not from the docks, Mickle said.

New swimming beaches and day use areas have been added; there’s brand-new playground equipment and a bathroom with showers. The new day use areas do not, at least not yet, have much shade, since the trees are recently planted. Many of the new picnic areas have a roof to provide some of that shade.

A walking trail was built to the end of the island, and Mickle said designers paid attention to pedestrian access to all new facilities. There are sidewalks to both boat launches and across the bridge from the riverbank. Mickle said it’s part of the PUD’s responsibility under its operating license to make facilities accessible to people with disabilities.

Alcohol will not be allowed on PUD property, Mickle said, and there will be increased security on busy weekends like Memorial Day.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.