Clover Island

Clover Island. Kennewick's Historic Waterfront. , Port of Kennewick has long been a champion for engaging with the Columbia River for commerce and recreation. , Founded in 1915, Port of Kennewick was the fifth public port district established in Washington State and the very first in eastern Washington. The port was created to foster commerce and accommodate steamboat traffic through the newly completed Dalles-Celilo Canal; a catalyst project which connected Kennewick, Washington with Portland, Oregon via the Columbia River. , Initially, the Port constructed riverside docks and public warehouses for storage and distribution of trade goods, including the Ivy Street terminal, located just east of Clover Island. , In 1941, the Port purchased Clover Island and leased it to Columbia Marine Shipyards for barge and tugboat construction. In 1944, the Winquat (at that time considered to be the most powerful tugboat in the world) was built here on Clover Island; as was the Port of Kennewick, a 175-foot barge. , After the flood of 1948 wiped out Clover Island’s shipyards, and after McNary Dam and shoreline levees were built in 1954, the Port connected Clover Island to the mainland, enabling construction of a large public marina for recreational use. The Metz family opened Metz Marina, the region’s first full-service public marina, on Clover Island. That marina was purchased by the Port and reconstructed for public use as Clover Island Marina in 2007. , Port of Kennewick continues to manage Clover Island for public benefit (as well as many other properties within the Port’s 485-square-mile district). Today, the focus for Clover Island is on public access, environmental stewardship, and urban renewal. The Port added public art, a lighthouse, the Riverwalk, and commercial buildings, with a goal of bringing new vitality to Kennewick’s historic waterfront. , [Captions:] , Locals celebrate the opening of the Dalles-Celilo Canal connecting Kennewick with Portland, photos dated 1915, The Port of Kennewick's Ivy Street Terminal expands regional commerce, photo circa 1941, The Winquatt, once considered the world's most powerful tugboat, was built in Clover Island, circa 1944, Following completion of McNary Dam in 1954, Metz Morina and Clover Island Yacht Club were established on Clover Island. Photo, dated 1954, provided by Kay Metz.