The design and workmanship is nothing less than stunning. We predict that the first question most visitors will ask will be this: “When are you going to do the rest of the boardwalk?”
Phase 1 came in on time and slightly under its $14.1 million budget, according to city officials. Completing future phases could cost another $40 million, but there’s no money in the bank at this time.
Once the public gets to walk the new boardwalk – which has been moved from over the water to the shoreline – once they stand under the new pavilions and gaze at the Olympic Mountains, when they cross over a new cove bridge and look back at the Capitol dome, and when they take time to check out the new bathhouse and park and playground, we suspect there will be a strong community push to reconstruct the rest of the old boardwalk as quickly as funds are available.
The Olympian’s editorial board got a sneak preview of the construction project in advance of next Thursday’s dedication ceremony. We were incredibly impressed with the forethought put into the project, the way architects worked public expectations into the design and the remarkable workmanship of the Quigg Brothers construction crew and their subcontractors.
Providing the vision, leadership and guidance from the city were council members in conjunction with Parks Director Linda Oestreich, associate director David Hanna and project manager Kip Summers. They have done an outstanding job of weaving the historical aspects of the Olympia waterfront – from Sam Percival’s ticket window to American Indian artwork – into the finished project.
Oestreich said, “This is the project of a lifetime. It’s the highlight of a career.”
Mayor Doug Mah is absolutely effusive in his praise. “We are very excited about this project and the way it turned out,” he said. “It’s a signature project for Olympia. You’re going to hear me say that over and over again. This project sets the standard for future projects in Olympia and future projects in the region. It’s that good.”
We agree.
While many aspects of the designs are intentional, they may be lost on casual visitors.
Take the two pavilions, for example. The solar-paneled roofs are meant to replicate the curves of a net cast into Budd Inlet by Squaxin Island tribal members who once fished for salmon. The checkered pattern of the roofs is designed to look like fish scales. There are two canoe-shaped flowerbeds.
The new bathhouse – which has 500 square feet of public space at the entrance, complete with fireplace and small kitchen – is designed to look like an American Indian longhouse. The back of the bathhouse, which faces Columbia Street, has that replica of Sam Percival’s ticket window and details about the history of the landing.
Gone are the creosote soaked pilings and the over-water boardwalk extensions that were closed to the public because of structural insecurity. The shoreline which was once a dumping ground for blocks of concrete, shopping carts and assorted trash, has been replaced by a well-sculpted, small rock shoreline that will be perfect for salmon habitat. Steel grates allow sunlight to reach the spawning beds.
One of the remarkable features – and there are many – is the lean-friendly railing over open-metal, transparent screen gridwork. Together they create a feeling of openness that was missing on the railing of the old boardwalk. There are customized picnic tables and chairs that visitors can move, to create their own space. A concrete path parallels the wooden planks of the boardwalk that provides people with walkers, strollers and high-heeled shoes a safe place to walk. From LED lighting to the 22 sculptured blocks that will serve as the foundation for future art, an incredible amount of attention was given to the details of the Percival Landing refurbishing project. Once complete – the playground equipment won’t be ready for two or three months – the project will have LEED silver certification for its green building features. Reclaimed water will keep an impressive array of new vegetation and sod at the park thriving.
Parking was removed from the Olympia Avenue entrance to the new space, but a new parking lot was built to parallel Columbia Street, so there is no loss of parking places.
We’re excited for members of the public to get their first look at the remodeled Percival Landing at next week’s dedication ceremony. It truly is a well-designed and executed “signature” project that is an awesome gift to present and future generations.
