Port Angeles Vision

“Neither Europe or Asia or South America has a prospect in which sea and woods and snow mountains are so united in a landscape.”  . . . a quote from the Kroll Map Company of this “Evergreen Playground”  (c.1940s)

Can Port Angeles become a world-class destination and attract those majestic cruise ships into its harbor as they pass by this “Evergreen Playground” on their way to Alaska?

With its natural breakwater, Ediz Hook, Port Angeles has a unique waterfront and also has the best access up into the Olympic National Park. The snow-capped Olympic Mountains form a magnificent panorama against the southern sky. Hurricane Ridge brings thousands of tourists every summer to hike the park’s alpine trails that are the envy of Europeans and Asians who travel around the world to enjoy the beauty of this corner of God’s handiwork.

A gold mine indeed! Uniquely situated to benefit from its natural endowment, responsible development can make Port Angeles into the ”diamond” of the Northwest. As economies wax and wane, Port Angeles must pursue the opportunities that come along to remain alive and well.

For starters, here are some ideas that come to mind. Not all thoughts are original but incorporate input from others around town.

1. Build oceanliner-quality docks in an angle or parallel docking/parking arrangement along the inside of Ediz Hook so that cruise ships could dock at Port Angeles on their way to Alaska. These beautiful cruise ships would provide a breathtaking view from the harbor as they come and go. The passengers could also spend their first dollars here in Port Angeles.

2. Build a clean energy (electic) trolley along Ediz Hook that would begin at the Coast Guard Station and terminate at the new bus terminal. This would bring the cruise ship passengers into Port Angeles in an orderly fashion without overwhelming the waterfront all at once.

3. At the site of the controversial graving yards, in a cooperative manner with the local Indian tribes, build a historical Indian village. Our native history, along with the logging industry history that brought about Port Angeles, could be told in an adjoining state museum as well. This would be similar to what the Royal BC Museum has done over in Victoria.

4. Build an oceanfront park, world class hotels, restaurants and boutique shops all along the Port Angeles waterfront. In the off-season, solicit convention business to take up the slack when the cruise ships are not running.

5. Install a gondola suspended by a cable that would leave the park to go above the city, heading up toward the mountains, terminating on top of the hill at a beautiful restaurant that would overlook the harbor and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

6. Make the Port Angeles downtown core more pedestrian friendly. Route through-traffic elsewhere, make the streets single-laned with more angle parking, plant trees, install benches & encourage sidewalk restaurants with outside tables.

Eat your heart out Seattle and Victoria. PORT ANGELES HAS IT ALL!

Other ideas are welcomed and are being solicited from all who read this blog.