KINGSTON — The economy may be slumping, but the Port of Kingston is booming.

As several area establishments are making cuts or even closing the doors, the Port is rolling out the red carpet on a slew of moving and shaking economic ventures.

The Port is laying the ground work to reestablish passenger ferry service to Coleman Dock, expanding Mike Wallace Park, renovating the marina and attracting various artists and festivals to the area.

“Our goal is really to have something going on all the time and we needed expanded services to do that,” said Port Manager Mike Bookey. “It’s exciting and fun. Especially in a down economy where everything is doom and gloom.”

The foot ferry ball got to rolling when the the Port received a $3.5 million federal transportation grant for the project and last fall acquired the assets used as the terminal.

The private company Aqua Express owned and operated the foot ferry for six months in 2005, but had to stop service as money was being lost. Some 144 passengers utilized the ferry, and Bookey said upwards of 400 passengers is needed for the service to be self sustainable.

His goal is to have service renewed by September, which will open with a Monday through Friday morning and evening run for a possible fare of $14-16.

“It’s a commuter run, and we’ll only have one so we have to pick a sweet spot for the time,” Bookey said.

Once the service is on course and making a wake, Bookey envisions offering more runs and weekend service.

The Port’s also in the midst of a Master Plan to enlarge the grass areas of Mike Wallace Park.

Some 700-feet of prime waterfront park access has been cumbered down with a storm water handling ditch system and additional water frontage with asphalt.

The asphalt’s been ripped out and replaced by a pervious grass drainage system, that can hold the weight of emergency vehicles. The dirt ditches are being removed and replaced with bioswales, a grass water-drainage ditch.

A tent for receptions and celebrations has been erected, and there’s plans — slated to be finished by June or July — for a stage area so concerts, plays and festivals can fill the cove all summer long.

“There’s going to be lots of activities instead of just a small plot of grass,” Bookey said. “It’ll be like a festival atmosphere all summer with lots of energy, action and fun.”

A 24-slip kayak facility with racks and launches will become part of the Port in March.

And come summertime the Port’s going green with plans to purchase an electric car.

Last summer the Port’s guests could use an electric car, compliments of Olympic Resources, for trips into town or the grocery store. Approximately 275 people used it and it was so popular Bookey said a signup/reservation system was needed.

“(The car) got people to spend money uptown,” Bookey said. “The average sale at Thriftway was between $40-50, whereas before these people wouldn’t have even gone there.”

Aside from the passenger ferry, the Port’s footing the bill for all the expansions, simply put because they’re profitable, Bookey said.