The city of Vancouver will celebrate the start of construction on the Waterfront Vancouver’s cable-stay pier with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, July 18 at 1 p.m.
The pier was designed by nationally-recognized public artist Larry Kirkland, and will be suspended 90 feet over the Columbia River with cables. Fisher Marantz Stone, an award-winning architectural lighting design firm, is charged with lighting design for the pier, surrounding park and its features. Rotschy Inc. of Vancouver will start construction work on the pier on July 18.
“This groundbreaking ceremony will mark an exciting moment in time as we begin to see the plans for the waterfront pier and park become a reality,” said Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt in a press release. “This project represents a successful public/private partnership and a culmination of years of planning to create a world class waterfront park right here in the city of Vancouver on the shores of the Columbia River.”
Speakers at the Monday groundbreaking will include: David Hodges, U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s Office, Southwest Washington Director; Annette Cleveland, Washington State Senator; Sharon Wylie, Washington State Representative; Barry Cain, Gramor Development; and Mayor Leavitt.
The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Entrance to the groundbreaking is off Columbia Way near Esther Street at the downtown Vancouver waterfront.
The pier is expected to be complete by the end of 2017.
As for the construction of the new 7.3 acre waterfront park, bids will go out this fall. Designed by PWL Partnership, the park will be the first new public park built within the city limits in more than seven years.
