Metro has completed construction of the additional single car parking area at the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp.
"The new investments in the Gleason Boat Ramp will continue to provide the residents of the region with an important community asset for decades," said Metro Councilor Sam Chase. "We are thrilled to reopen this facility to the 25,000 boaters and visitors who use it every year."
This is the final phase of construction for the Gleason boat ramp. In addition to installation of permanent restrooms, stormwater improvements, a new parking lot, and additional single car parking, other beneficial improvement features have been installed in previous phases of work. Projects included construction of a new gangway, new boarding floats for transient boaters, and a wave and debris deflection system that allows for efficient fish passage.
"Gleason boat ramp has been transformed into an important part of the community. Gleason houses the Multnomah County River Patrol headquarters, supporting their water rescue efforts throughout the Columbia River area. Gleason served as the staging area for fire crews fighting the blaze on Government Island recently," said Paul Slyman, director of Metro's Parks and Environmental Services department. "Gleason boat ramp not only provides safe launching for boats, it offers plenty of parking for visitors who enjoy the adjacent Broughton Beach year after year."
To protect the water quality, pervious brick pavers were used in the construction of the new additional single car parking area. Pervious pavers are designed to allow infiltration of stormwater through the surface into the soil below where the water is naturally filtered and pollutants are removed.
Funding was provided by Metro, Oregon State Marine Board and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to enhance boater safety, accessibility, protect the water quality and allow for efficient fish passage at this widely-used boat ramp.