MARYSVILLE – After about three decades, the dream of a waterfront park will be realized Saturday when city officials dedicate the new Ebey Waterfront Park.
The $4 million park and boat launch will be open from dawn to dusk, starting Sunday.
“The waterfront park adds to the attractive, pedestrian-friendly downtown we want to create,” Mayor Dennis Kendall said. “The park builds on and complements the success we achieved with the State Avenue road improvement and beautification project we completed in 2004.”
The dedication ceremony will begin at noon Saturday at the shoreline as part of the city’s annual HomeGrown Festival. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The park dedication will include the Tulalip Tribes’ Canoe Family dancers, Dixieland jazz music, refreshments and a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m.
The park, on the city’s south end at State Avenue and First Street, will be Marysville’s only publicly owned access to Ebey Slough.
While the park has been in the works for the past five years, the idea for it has been a vision for about three decades. The city broke ground on the project in June.
“It started 10 years ago and this weekend it’s done,” city Parks and Recreation Department director Jim Ballew said. “I think that in itself speaks to a commitment by several city councils and visions by four or five mayors. It’s nice to take one of those visions that’s been on the shelf for 25 to 30 years and have it come to fruition. Michael V. Martina / The Herald
“It’ll be a hoot. I’m an excited boater,” he said.
The boat ramp will open to the public on Sunday, although a very low tide is expected.
Ebey Waterfront Park will provide access to the Snohomish River delta and Port Gardner Bay for pleasure boaters, anglers and hunters.
It will also serve as “an invaluable resource for economic development, downtown revitalization and tourism along the city’s southern gateway,” Kendall said.
Key elements of the park include a four-lane public boat launch, a short-stay moorage float, bathrooms and Ebey Fish Plaza, a nautical-themed children’s play area.
There’s also a $20,000 community clock donated by the Harv and Larry Jubie families.
In 1998, the city bought the land for $880,569 from Welco Lumber Co., in part with an $817,000 grant from the state Interagency for Outdoor Recreation to assist in planning and construction.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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