History of the Site
Journey Through Time
Ridgefield has deep roots. The confluence of Lake River and the Columbia River was originally home to the lower Columbia River tribes and Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The Lewis and Clark Expedition visited the area twice, once in 1805 en route to the Pacific Ocean and the next in 1806 on the return voyage.
From the mid-1960s to the 1990s, most of the Ridgefield Waterfront was owned and operated by Pacific Wood Treating (PWT), which produced various pressure-treated wood products and poles. In 1993 the PWT facility closed and by 1996 the Port had secured control of the properties and started cleanup of the facility, in close coordination with the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Site Clean-Up
The Port of Ridgefield has spent decades managing the transformation of the Waterfront, from a former industrial site to a place where community gathering, environmental access, and mixed-use development can take place.
Between 1996 to 2012, the Port led extensive environmental and engineering improvements in coordination with local, state and federal partners. The Port has overseen more than $90 million in investments in and adjacent to the Waterfront site including; contaminants removal and a clean soil cover over approximately 41 acres of land where PWT once operated. The Port replaced the old stormwater system with new drains, piping, and outfalls. The clean soil cover is an average of 3.5 feet thick across the site, and a minimum of 2 feet thick, which raises the site above the floodplain.
By 2015, Ecology determined that “cleanup at the former PWT plant site was completed” and that the land has been restored for development. Today, a Consent Decree between the Port and Ecology, and the Comprehensive Operations and Maintenance Plan guide the processes that must be followed during future development of the sites. “The Comp” and other environmental analysis and planning documents have been completed by Maul Foster & Alongi (MFA) and other consultants, who continue to advise the Port on environmental matters.
Downtown & Waterfront Integration Project
In 2011 the Port and City of Ridgefield partnered to ensure future development of the downtown and waterfront areas, while separate and each with their own unique strengths, are intentionally integrated in a way that preserves their unique identities and are mutually supportive rather than competitive.
The Ridgefield Downtown/Waterfront Integration Project - Action Plan is, “designed to promote the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of Ridgefield through the revitalization of downtown and redevelopment of the waterfront” and will serve as a framework for future policy, revitalization, and integration strategies.
Community Engagement
In 2022, the Port launched its effort to redevelop the Ridgefield Waterfront, starting with a community engagement effort aimed at gathering the community's vision, values, and desired uses for the 40-acre site. The engagement process was overwhelmingly successful, resulting in over 1,500 survey responses and thousands of engagements with the community through social media, web, and in-person events. One of the key findings included the public’s desire for an open, walkable, and community-accessible park and open space. As a result, the Port of Ridgefield partnered with the City of Ridgefield and designated approximately 13 acres of the site along the banks of Lake River to a public park open space. The process to design and plan the park/open space is currently underway.
Some frequently requested amenities and uses included access to Lake River for water recreation, dining and entertainment, trails, shopping, and entertainment activities. Above all, the survey results indicated the community’s desire to transform the waterfront into a vibrant, walkable community where people can live, work and play.
Waterfront Business Plan
In 2023, the Port engaged Leland Consulting Group to conduct visioning workshops with the Port Commission and develop a market analysis and development strategy for the Ridgefield Waterfront. Port Commissioners adopted the comprehensive and visionary business plan for rebuilding the Ridgefield Waterfront and serves as a guide for how to move forward in the months and years to come.
The business plan suggests that development and investments in the Waterfront should be screened against the following criteria:
Provides “triple bottom line” benefits (economic, social, and environmental) to the greater Ridgefield community
Generates economic development and high-quality jobs
Provides enhanced community spaces, including a waterfront park and connections to the Lake River and the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Provides and improves public access to the public areas of the waterfront
Brings the Port headquarters office back to the Waterfront
Be financially feasible and beneficial for the Port and the Port’s project partners
Breaks ground as soon as possible, but also take a patient point of view towards development - doing the right thing over the long term is more important than rushing and falling short of the vision.