The beach at Bryant Park on Tuesday evening.
If you happened to see all those paddle craft lined up on the Willamette river bank at Bryant Park and were wondering what was going on, listen to Kate Ross Kuthe explain:
[youtube video=”zJw47Z1lK6E”]
Kate is the outreach and education coordinator of Willamette Riverkeeper, the Portland-based nonprofit that tries to look after the Willamette and advocates on behalf of things like pollution prevention and restoration of the river’s natural surroundings.
On a bike ride through town, I happened across the the camp of the roughly 150 participants in this year’s Paddle Oregon event as they were having a catered dinner in Bryant Park at dusk on Tuesday. (Because of lots of high-altitude wildfire smoke in the air, dusk seemed to come a bit earlier than usual.)
This was the end of the paddlers’ second of five days on river. They had started in Harrisburg and spent the first night in Corvallis, from where they set out again Tuesday morning. After three more days of paddling, their river voyage will end in St. Paul.
No longer used for commercial navigation, the river has been largely cleaned up over the last 50 years. Now, among other things it’s a terrific recreation spot for people in small boats, especially canoes and kayaks.
I’m glad that so many people are taking part in this year’s Oregon Paddle. May they inspire many others to strap on their life jackets and get out on this beautiful river before the summer is gone. (hh)
Dinner in Bryant Park, with Albany’s Willamette river bridges in the background.
What Bryant Park ought to have is a decent “boat ramp”. At least a proper way of launching & coming back in from the river. Years ago there was a paved one that went into the Calapooia Creek. That went the way of the short lived foot bridge some years ago.
Why waste the money? There is one across the bridge at Takena landing, one right down river at Bowman, and one just up river at Hyak. How many do you need? For no deeper than it is there the beach shown is perfect for what can be launched there.
I always love the people that complain about wasted money, taxes, etc, etc, then complain because we need something better. I guess some people just like to complain.
This is truly a White Privilege kinda problem.
Man, some people are very hostile to the idea of building a boat ramp. Relax, guys!
Why & why relax?
There is no need. Boat ramp just across on the north side. What is it called? Oh yeah………
Takena and another at Bowman.
Great lead picture Hasso!
All the colors. From white to yellow and blue and…not sure to yellow and blue and green. River in the background. Well framed. ….good…keep it up.
It is appreciated.