Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock

Last updated

Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock
Portland, Oregon, July 25, 2020 - 12.jpg
Entrance and signage for the dock, 2020
Location
LocationPortland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates 45°31′29.3″N122°39′57.3″W / 45.524806°N 122.665917°W / 45.524806; -122.665917
Details
TypeDock

The Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock is a dock on the Willamette River, along Portland, Oregon's Eastbank Esplanade. [1]

Contents

History

"Duckworth Summer Wednesdays" series participants at the dock in 2023 Human Access Project - Duckworth Summer Wednesday's.jpg
"Duckworth Summer Wednesdays" series participants at the dock in 2023

The dock has served as a memorial to Kevin Duckworth since 2009. [2] [3] [4] In 2016, the Oregon State Marine Board considered a proposal from Daimler Trucking North America to relocate the dock to Swan Island to the company's headquarters. [5] [6] [7] This move was approved by Oregon State Marine Board and Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R). [8] [9] Human Access Project (HAP) intervened to stop this move from happening. [10] [11] The organization proposed improvements to the dock in 2017 by hiring landscape architect firm M.I.G. to reinvision the use of the dock as a non-motorized swimming and fishing dock that included swim ladders and bike racks. [12] [13]

In 2020, HAP was successful in converting the use of the dock from motorized to non motorized and implementing improvements including the addition of eight swimming ladders and bike racks. [14] [15] On July 19, 2021, City of Portland Commissioner Mingus Mapps participated in a Duckworth Wednesday event, where he spoke and jumped in the Willamette River with his staff. [16] In 2022, PP&R and HAP designated the dock one of six safer swimming areas on the Willamette River. [17] In May 2024, the Portland City Council unanimously agreed to transfer the Duckworth (as well as the Holman Dock) to PP&R. These docks were previously managed by Portland Bureau of Transportation and Prosper Portland respectively. [18]

References

  1. "Duckworth Dock reinvented as arguably the best swimming hole in Portland". kgw.com. September 4, 2020. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  2. Bucket, Busta. "Trail Blazers, City of Portland to Honor Duckworth". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  3. Freeman, Joe (September 18, 2009). "Willamette River dock dedicated to honor Trail Blazer Kevin Duckworth". The Oregonian . Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  4. Boddie, Ken (July 23, 2018). "Where We Live: The Duckworth Dock". KOIN.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  5. Leighton, Michael (February 16, 2016). "Duckworth Dock May Move". portlandobserver.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  6. VanderHart, Dirk. "Trucking Giant Daimler Has Its Eye on One of Downtown's Only Public Docks". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  7. "Portland Outdoors: Duckworth Dock One Step Closer to Moving". Portland, OR Patch. March 30, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  8. "City gets approval to relocate Duckworth dock". kgw.com. March 29, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  9. "Portland Outdoors: Duckworth Dock One Step Closer to Moving". Portland, OR Patch. March 30, 2016. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. "Duckworth Dock reinvented as arguably the best swimming hole in Portland". kgw.com. September 4, 2020. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  11. Vandel, Willie Levenson and Tom (March 24, 2016). "My View: Repurpose, don't move, Duckworth Dock". PortlandTribune.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  12. "Willamette River boosters want to turn Duckworth Dock into a recreational nexus". Bizjournals.com. September 13, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  13. Law, Steve (June 20, 2017). "A vision for swimming". PortlandTribune.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  14. "Portland's Newest Swimming Hole Is Ready for Your Diving Pleasure". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  15. "Duckworth Dock to get new bike parking area". BikePortland. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  16. Commissioner Mingus Mapps speaks at Duckworth Dock , retrieved July 28, 2023
  17. "Portland Parks & Recreation highlights 6 safer swimming spots along the Willamette River". KATU. July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  18. "Popular Eastbank Esplanade docks transferred to Portland parks department". KOIN.com. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.