BREMERTON — The City and Port of Bremerton celebrated St. Patrick’s Day a little differently this year: by holding a ribbon cutting for a new boat launch and float at Evergreen Rotary Park.

According to the Port of Bremerton website, “the Evergreen Rotary Park Boat Launch is a cooperative Port of Bremerton and City of Bremerton facility providing parking and a two-lane launching ramp with center line floats to make launching easier in the sometimes swift Port Washington Narrows current.”

The new launch cost just over $450,000, according to Jim Rothlin, CEO of the Port of Bremerton, but thanks to grant money and money from the state, the Port of Bremerton and the City of Bremerton only paid $58,000 each for the launch.

According to Rothlin, the launch at this location dates back to the 1800s, when it was originally used for the mosquito fleet steamboats. It was rebuilt in 1919, and served auto ferries until the 1960s. Rothlin said the port got involved in the launch in 1988 when it needed repairs. The port was able to fund the repairs through a grant from an interagency committee for recreation.

“Lo and behold, about 25 plus years later, again we took a look at the ramp and said the same idea, it was beyond its useful life,” Rothlin said at the ribbon cutting.

“One of the things that we like about the launch is it’s in a great location,” Rothlin added. “It provides access to the Sinclair and Dyes inlets, as well as Puget Sound. It provides access to chinook fishing two weeks earlier than other marine areas. There’s fishing and boating events held here. I know there’s a fishing derby held here. The kayaks use it.

“It’s a great place for a boat launch. I think the community uses it a lot, so we’re happy to be a part of this. We’re happy to help fund this thing and make it move forward.”

The Port of Bremerton Commissioners and staff celebrated the newly constructed Evergreen Boat Launch and Float at the Evergreen Rotary Park in Bremerton at 3 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17. The new boat launch replaced an existing, failing ramp, piles and floats last improved in 1988. Photo by Michelle Beahm

Bremerton City Council President Eric Younger said, “I walked the ramp, and I walked the old ramp too, and obviously, it’s like night and day.”

Younger said the new ramp has grating “desirable” for the fish habitat, and is now ADA compliant “because of the incline and the width of the ramp.”

“It looks great, hopefully last another 30 years,” Younger said. “I’m sure it will.”

Michelle Caldier, State Representative of the 26th Legislative District, which includes Bremerton, said the reason the state was able to procure 70 percent of the funding for this project was because of the collaborative work in Olympia between representatives and state senators, including Sen. Jan Angel.

“It’s so nice to see some of our hard work come to fruition,” Caldier said.

Doug Ferry spoke at the ribbon cutting on behalf of the Kitsap Poggie Club, a nonprofit organization that promotes fishing, crabbing and other family oriented outdoor water activities.

“Growing up as a young man here in Bremerton, this ramp right here is where my mother used to take me to fish off of,” Ferry said. “This is not only a part of my heritage, it is a part of my legacy, being a part of this and being a part of the Poggie Club.

“This ramp is also used for kayakers and crabbers and personal watercraft to enter the Sinclair Inlet and Puget Sound. It’s a big part of who we are here in Kitsap County and in the City of Bremerton.”

The new boat launch, located in the Evergreen Rotary Park at 1500 Park Ave. in Bremerton, is now complete, and will reopen March 30. For more information, visit www.portof bremerton.org/recreation/evergreen-boat-ramp.

A demonstration was performed by a Coast Guard safe boat crew after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new boat launch and float in Evergreen Rotary Park in Bremerton March 17. Photo by Michelle Beahm