Stretching from The Hook to the Hood River Marina, the Hood River Waterfront is a mecca for watersport and recreation use. Increasing popularity and activity growth places increasing demands on the Port’s recreational sites, and brings more challenges and expectations for managing and maintaining them.

The recent completion of a major waterline expansion at the Port’s Lower Mill Redevelopment Site for Crystal Springs Water District (CSWD) will ensure sufficient fire flow for future buildings, and the removal of stockpiled materials and grading at the largest of four available lots brings the Port closer to its project goals for the site. After successfully cleaning up the brownfield, the former Lower Hanel Mill site will soon return to productive use by the private sector with the creation four shovel-ready, buildable M-1 industrial-zoned lots off Highway 35 in Odell.

The Port’s new waterfront parking management plan created a major change on the Hood River Waterfront this past summer, and results show it was successful in increasing parking turnover in congested parking areas during peak summer months. The new parking plan began in early June to more effectively manage limited parking on Port-owned streets, encourage off-street parking for longer visits, and generate new revenue for parks.