The Port of Ridgefield has secured $100,000 in state funding to support early planning and design work for its future waterfront park, a key piece of a broader redevelopment effort along Lake River.
The waterfront park is planned as a 9-acre space split into two distinct zones, with an “active” area to the south and a natural “passive” area stretching north along the Lake River shoreline. The active southern portion is expected to include a family play area, flexible event space often described as a small amphitheater, walking paths and seating areas designed for gatherings. The northern passive zone is planned with trails, picnic areas, art features, cultural and interpretive spaces and quieter areas for recreation.
The park is part of a larger 40-acre waterfront redevelopment plan that includes a 58-room boutique hotel, mixed-use buildings, office and commercial space, residential development, workforce housing, public parking and expanded marina access with new docks and shoreline improvements.
The park funding, approved during a short legislative session, will go toward the “passive” portion of the park, helping advance early design, site planning and initial improvements aimed at expanding public access.
“We are really grateful for the legislature prioritizing this project … when we did community engagement a few years ago, the community told us that the waterfront park was their top priority,” Abbi Russell, administration and operations manager for the Port of Ridgefield, said.
The waterfront property previously hosted the Pacific Wood Treating Co. facility, which operated on the waterfront from 1964 to 1993, leaving behind soil contaminants. With environmental cleanup of creosote chemicals complete at the waterfront, the port is preparing to shift into construction, with a target groundbreaking date of 2027 for Phase 1.
That first phase will include infrastructure, utilities, a new port office, workforce housing, public parking and a mixed-use building. It will also begin development of the park’s active southern portion, which is being funded by the port’s development partner, Palindrome Properties Group.
The newly allocated funds will focus on the northern passive section of the park.
“The $100,000 that they provided in the budget will be part of our planning and pre-design and immediate improvements to start that process of increasing access for everyone,” Russell said.
Port officials say the investment is an important first step, especially as they pursue additional grants and funding sources. Current estimates place in-water improvements, including a new day dock and ADA-accessible kayak launch, between $4.5 million and $6.5 million. Upland improvements for the passive park area are estimated at around $2.5 million.
“It's a great impact,” Russell said of the legislative funds. “It gets us rolling, so it's really important to have those first dollars coming in so that we can plan the overall site. It helps us to seek additional funding, so we will be putting some port dollars in as well.”
