King County Parks has announced a modification in its previously announced plans to close Dockton Park and Marina’s entire dock area between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, now saying the boat launch at the park will remain open until August 11.
Eleanor Lee, a spokesperson for Parks, announced the schedule change a July 15 email to The Beachcomber.
“King County Parks asked the contractor to keep the boat launch open as long as possible past August 1,” Lee wrote, addding that beyond Aug. 11, it would not be safe to leave the launch open while construction is happening.
Dockton Park’s moorage will still close as planned on Aug. 1, Lee said, but there is “a small possibility” that the boat launch will reopen earlier than Sept. 30, before the rest of moorage is opened.
On July 10, The Beachcomber reported on the county’s original plans, as well as complaints by islanders that they had not given timely notice that the entire marina would be closed during prime boating season. Signs were posted at the dock in late June, warning of the closure.
In an emailed newsletter sent to constituents on July 15, Vashon’s King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said that Vashon residents had contacted her office as well, and she had in turn discussed the issue with Parks.
“We appreciate the Vashon residents that flagged [us] about King County Parks’ sign that notified of a planned closure of the only public boat launch on Vashon,” Mosqueda wrote. “My office was unaware of the plans until it was brought to our attention and we tried getting the project delayed.”
Multi-year project
The work about to occur at the marina marks Phase 2 of the county’s multi-year project to improve the marina.
The playground and picnic area of the park will remain open and accessible throughout the duration of the project, but parking may also be reduced due to construction activities, according to King County’s website description of the project at tinyurl.com/mrcmt4js.
Phase 1 of the project — which started in 2019 and finished in May 2022 — replaced various piles and finger piers internally on the dock. Other improvements included a new swim dock, fire suppression system, sewage pump out station, hardware replacements, nonskid coating and fixed pier cross bracing replacement under the park’s bathroom. The new dock was constructed with plastic grating that lets light through and created a better habitat for sea life.
Phase 2 of the project will include replacing the breakwater; upgrading the boat ramp dock and replacing the floating dock at Dockton Park’s moorage.
According to the county’s website, the timing for Phase 2 of the project is limited by federal and state environmental permits, which restricts work to a narrow window between August 1 and September 30 to protect local endangered species.
The website states that the county recognizes that the timing of the closure overlaps with prime boating season.
“However, any delay would postpone construction until the same window next year, as this type of in-water work is not permitted outside this seasonal window,” according to the website. “Both the boat ramp dock and the moorage breakwater are in urgent need of replacement. Further delays could lead to worsening structural conditions and longer, unplanned closures that could not be addressed until the next summer construction period.”
For more information about the project, visit tinyurl.com/mrcmt4js or King County’s “Backyard Fun Finder” at tinyurl.com/utmx8ms7. Subscribe to a Vashon-Maury Island specific email newsletter from King County Parks at tinyurl.com/32vsmhh2.
Correction: A version of this article previously posted online contained two errors related to dates. Both Eleanor Lee’s email to The Beachcomber and Teresa Mosqueda’s email to constituents were sent on July 15, not August 15. We regret the error.
