The Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) has named the Port of Ridgefield as the recipient of its annual Port of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes a WPPA member that has demonstrated exceptional success in the industry. There are currently 75 member ports operating within the state.
In recognizing the Port of Ridgefield, WPPA cited the extensive, multi-year, $90 million environmental cleanup of the port’s 41-acre waterfront site – Millers’ Landing. The site, formerly a wood treating facility, was cleared for development late last year.
The two-decades-long cleanup project is now in its final stages. Project completion is anticipated in late spring 2015.
“We have recognized the Port of Ridgefield for their extraordinary work in cleaning up and revitalizing the Ridgefield waterfront,” said Eric D. Johnson, WPPA executive director. “This port took on a daunting challenge and saw it through to a successful conclusion.
“The community of Ridgefield is now poised for even more success thanks to their port – which is exactly what the other ports in Washington love to see,” he added. “Ports are good at taking a long-term view, and the Port of Ridgefield is a perfect example of that. We selected them as the Port of the Year for exemplifying what ports can do.”
“My fellow commissioners and I are proud and pleased to win this prestigious award,” said Port Commissioner Bruce Wiseman. “It was working together over so many years on a project that were all passionate about that got us here. Our job was to get it done for the betterment of Ridgefield – and we did it.”
