Hood River Waterfront Gets New Park at Nichols Basin

There are exciting things happening at the Hood River Waterfront! The Port of Hood River is continuing to work on the development of Lot 1 and Nichols Basin in the heart of Hood River’s Waterfront. This spring, HRVRC Executive Director Heather Staten was on the advisory committee that developed preliminary plans for the design of a 2-acre park and walking trail along the west shore of Nichols Basin. The Port recently received a $445,000 state grant for the park and trail. Construction is slated to start this winter.

In July, the City of Hood River and Port will embark on a Waterfront Plan Refinement process to craft new zoning codes for much of the waterfront. They will consider:

• the balance between employment lands, recreation spaces and habitat
• vehicular and non-vehicular transportation
• building height, setbacks from river, design standards, view sheds
• acceptable uses in each zone
• parks and trails
• environmental impacts, such as storm water

The refinement plan is a legislative action that will include an advisory group and public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. HRVRC has a long history of engagement on waterfront issues going back to the early 1980s when we produced a mixed use plan. Just last year, we participated on a Port advisory committee and Board members Nick Kraemer and Heather Staten prepared a Lot 1 and Nichols Basin Development Concepts  report advocating development that balances economic development, public recreation and stewardship of the environment.