FOLLOWUP: Jack Block Park pier closure planned for repairs

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(May photo by David Hutchinson)

1:30 PM: Early alert from the Port of Seattle regarding the damage at Jack Block Park in West Seattle, first noted here back in May:

Starting as early as January 2, 2020, and going as late as March 6, 2020, the pier at Jack Block Park will be closed for repairs to the pier structure and hand railings.

Work will generally be Monday through Friday, starting as early as 6:00 AM and will end as late as 4:30 PM.

Visitors should expect a reduction in parking spaces near the eastern restroom building, while the ADA parking space will remain available.

The plaza will remain open, but a small portion may be used for staging. We appreciate the public’s understanding while these repairs are being completed.

3:37 PM: Since our archives showed that repairs were made in spring, we asked port spokesperson Peter McGraw for information on exactly what will happen during this closure. His reply:

In the summer of 2019 we completed interim repairs; those repairs allowed us to open the majority of the pier.

A small portion of the pier which we closed about 2-1/2years ago remains closed. That portion will be open again at the completion of the upcoming project.

The upcoming project work includes repairing additional damage from the 2019 impact event that caused the summer 2019 closure.

The project will also complete needed repairs that are simply due to age of the pier.

SillyGoose December 11, 2019 (3:18 pm)

Extreme Danger? That is basically a new structure do you know what the problem is?

WSB December 11, 2019 (3:28 pm)

The photo is from May and as noted in our coverage then, a vessel had apparently hit the pier. I have a followup question out to the port asking whether this is indeed related to that or something new.

Craig December 11, 2019 (4:56 pm)

There’s so much potential unrealized with this park, and the surrounding space. It’d be a strong alternative boarding dock to the water taxi, as parking at the existing dock is very limited. This park also could benefit from inspired usage planning as its shape and access is cumbersome, especially driving over the HUGE and numerous speed bumps to the dock mentioned. Good place for something used by more people considering it’s in a crown jewel location with views and shoreline.

mrsB December 11, 2019 (10:10 pm)

So you’re proposing that people using the Water Taxi would park in the already limited parking area, thus denying use of the park for everyone else. This is a wildlife haven and using iit for any other purpose than pleasure and recreation would be ridiculous.
- Craig December 12, 2019 (2:02 pm)
  
  I’m proposing the city expand the parking area at Jack Block to accommodate the already at capacity parking for the environmentally and commuter vital water taxi service, and move the water taxi dock there. This is not a new idea, it was proposed in 2007, but with no results. Using current parking at Jack Block is unrealistic of course, but there is massively copious amount of land there at Terminal 5, and the city could purchase the lot in use there now being used for vehicle storage as a quick solution. Just like what we see currently at Seacrest, the taxi, restaurant and bike/kayak rental and divers all coexist today. It would not be a denial for everyone else and would possibly bring in new visitors to enjoy the park. I don’t think Jack Block is a wild life haven, as it’s on a Superfund site and contains industrial debris, was/is contaminated with creosite and long list of other things bad for critters. In fact adding usage to it might improve the wildlife attractiveness of it with landscaping and clean up. Just an idea. We’re on the same page and neither of us wants to hurt the animals or reduce park usage.