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

History

"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. 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. 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.
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