PORT ANGELES — A long-term idea to expand year-round activity on Port Angeles’ downtown waterfront is now being floated for early public feedback.
The Port Angeles Waterfront District is exploring the concept of an outdoor recreation center at the parking lot near the City Pier — the same site used for the Winter Ice Village. The idea is still in its earliest stages.
“We received a grant last year from Washington State’s Tourism Department to explore the possibility of developing an outdoor recreation center — essentially a pavilion. It would be a free-standing roof structure over the parking lot where the Winter Ice Village is located, allowing for more programming to happen. When weather becomes an issue, it can be difficult to hold events down at the City Pier, and this would provide a covered option while still allowing for overflow parking,” said Waterfront District Executive Director Sam Grello.
A covered structure could also prevent problems such as a few years ago when snow collapsed the tent that covered the ice village.
“With something like this, we would not have an issue like that, and there’s the potential to have a bigger ice rink as well,” Grello added.
No funding has been secured beyond the planning phase, and no construction timeline has been set. Waterfront District leaders say community feedback will help determine whether the idea moves forward.
A public survey is now available on the Waterfront District’s Facebook page, asking residents for input — including whether downtown parking should remain untouched.
Here’s a link for more info: https://www.thefutureofartanddesign.com/worc