The Port of Cascade Locks recent Strategic Business Plan looks at ways to make the town a recreational destination. Photo courtesy Port of Cascade Locks / cascadelocks.com
The Port of Cascade Locks recent Strategic Business Plan looks at ways to make the town a recreational destination. Photo courtesy Port of Cascade Locks / cascadelocks.com
CASCADE LOCKS — Developments aimed at putting Cascade Locks on the map as a recreation destination, referencing Port of Cascade Locks’ recent Strategic Business Plan, were a priority at the port commission’s Jan. 7 meeting.
Final reporting and reimbursements are complete for a Parks and Recreation grant, with which the port funded the pro-build side of the new Climb mountain biking trail. Because the project finished under budget, volunteer labor and other contributions fulfilled the requirement for matching funds. The port will be refunded what they over-paid.
Commissioners voted unanimously to flow the refund back into the project by giving it to Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA), a volunteer organization whose equipment manager requested help with repair costs. A couple of weeks ago, for example, the volunteers’ machine broke and took about $12,000 to repair.
NWTA also buildt the EasyClimb trail on port land, while the Climb trail was held back by legal requirements. The first phase of the Climb trail is complete, and NWTA expects to get halfway through phase II in 2025. Currently, volunteers are scratching their heads about how to get past a patch of rivulets, and posting on socials.
“It’s pretty impressive the buzz that is happening,” said longtime Advocacy Director Andrew Janksy, who expects the trail to make Cascade Locks a mountain biking destination.
U.S. Forest Service grant applications, pending review, would install kiosks, restrooms and parking.
Commissioners Ted Dodd and Carry Klute attended an Oregon outdoor recreation summit, and returned with enthusiasm for building an RV resort in Cascade Locks. Dodd’s motion to focus on this goal during a major work session with consultants — hired to help translate the goals of the port’s Strategic Business Plan to real-life working plans — died without a second. But commissioners reached a consensus to make this their priority, and directed staff to plan accordingly.
Klute also suggested a state or nationally recognized water trail would be “an easy pull” for the commission, requiring “only” grants, signage and selecting a route; water access already exists.
“We have so much potential in this town, and I think we are on our way to responsibly utilizing that,” Klute said.
In other news
Director Jeremiah Blue is looking for a way to support the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. In the past, grants from the port have paid museum staff and day-to-day operating costs. Now, grants from the port go through a new grant program, accessible at bit.ly/POCLGrantInfo. General operating costs are not eligible, and the museum still needs support.
City Councilor Denise Emmerling-Baker made the only public comment, reminding commissioners that a Main Street grant application for up to $400,000 per building is live. Main Street will apply on behalf of any downtown building whose projects align with their priorities of downtown revitalization. Deadline is Feb. 5 to send a letter of interest; then Main Street will choose a project to submit by March 13.
Commissioners unanimously approved a change to the lease for port-owned building Flex 6. The tenant will design and install a cold storage facility; the landlord will reimburse them up to $550,000 and the tenant will repay it gradually through their rent.
Port-owned building Flex 6 is still empty, though some potential tenants have expressed interest, said Blue.
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