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Event site opened today May 27

 
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moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
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white salmon
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PostWed May 27, 20 11:42 am    Event site opened today May 27 Reply with quote

Waterfront Recreation – what is open and what is closed today?

DATE: MAY 27, 2020
As recreational facilities managers work to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in our communities while providing safe, responsible, and socially distanced outside recreation, recreational facility users need to know that any crowding or gatherings of large groups at recreational facility may result in immediate closures.

Please recreate close to home, avoid traveling far from home, and if you don’t live in Hood River, please do not recreate here.

The following list provides up-to-date status of each recreational facility owned and operated by the Port of Hood River. However, the open/closed status of all facilities listed below may change at any time – please look for signs posted at the site and be sure to comply with all rules and guidance posted.

CROWDED PARKS LEAD TO CLOSED PARKS

Event Site and Event Site Parking Lot – The Event Site parking lot will open for the summer season at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT SITE OPENING:
No kite launching or landing allowed at the Event Site until further notice. Pumping and drying at the east end of the Event Site lawn is okay. Proper social distancing is required.
Parking booth attendants schedule will be intermittent. If there is no parking booth attendant and you do not already have a season pass, you will need to pay for parking at the 2 kiosks located in the Event Site parking lot.
The lot will close at 9:00 p.m. every night.
To limit the number of users and encourage social distancing, traffic cones will be placed in every other parking spot. These spots are closed.
The restrooms are closed. There will be porta-potties located near the restrooms. Garbage service is limited – there will be a small dumpster placed near the restrooms. Please come prepared to pack out your garbage.

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moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
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white salmon
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PostWed May 27, 20 11:44 am     Reply with quote

Emphasis : No launching or landing on the grass!!!! Only inflation and drying.
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moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
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white salmon
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PostWed May 27, 20 11:57 am     Reply with quote

Reference: https://portofhoodriver.com/whatisopen/
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moondog

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moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
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white salmon
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PostWed May 27, 20 1:44 pm     Reply with quote

All Washington and Oregon sites opened today in the Gorge!
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Pepi

Since 16 Jun 2006
1831 Posts
Pure Stoke Sports
Shop Owner

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PostWed May 27, 20 4:50 pm     Reply with quote

Notification from the Port of Hood River:

The Event Site has been opened this morning.
This is a work in progress. It is critical that there isn’t overcrowding so that it doesn’t get shut back down. If it appears that people are not capable of maintaining social distancing there is a possibility that the park will get closed. Let’s all work together and not let that happen.

This is the scoop as of today. Please keep in mind that things could change at any given point in time.
• Booth- there will be staff at the booth starting tomorrow.
• Kite Launching- Spit only. Pump and dry is okay on the grass from east of the restroom. If the water comes up too high and the sandbar disappears the launch pad will be installed. Why not open launch pad now? Because if the Event Site appears to full and social distancing is not being maintained the park will get closed. This is bad for everyone. If you pump and dry only on the grass there is a larger area available to spread out.
• Restrooms- temporarily closed, port-a-potties have been dropped off. Reason- to meet the State of OR Covid-19 safety guidelines to maintain a public restroom is really expensive and very difficult to keep up with. Port-a-potties are a temporary solution until guidelines are lifted.
• Trash- there is a temporary small dumpster located across from the restroom. Why no cans? Risky for staff to handle given the unknown of Covid-19.
• Season Passes- all vehicles must have pass displayed on dashboard or tickets will be issued. There is no forgiveness this year so be sure your pass is visible. If you order your pass online it will be mailed to you. If the booth is open passes will be available to purchase. The Port office is still closed to the public.
• Enforcement- every parked car must pay. If staff is not at the booth and the Event Site Lot is open, people can pay at the Kiosk. Tickets will be issued to cars not having paid or having a pass.
• Orange Cones- every other Parking space has been temporarily coned off- The reasoning is to send the message that people need to spread out and social distance.
• Lot Full- if the Event Site Lot fills up, Lot #1 will be open. Season Passes and day passes are valid.
• Street Parking- pay at kiosks. Season or day passes are NOT valid for street parking. Tickets will be issued to those who do not pay at the kiosk.
• Overlength Vehicles- passes only good in overlength spaces. Regular length vehicles may not park in overlength spaces. Tickets will be issued to violators.
• West Jensen Parking- Regular length vehicle Season Pass holder passes are valid in select stalls in the Jenson Lot. Over length passes are not valid in that location and will be ticketed. Event Site regular length day passes are valid, overlength day passes are not valid.
• Waterfront Park- I am still waiting to hear from the City of HR about the opening of the Waterfront Park. Why aren’t they opening at the same time and what’s up with the orange fencing? That park has a playground, and playgrounds are not okay to open per the Governors orders. People have shown no respect for the park closed signs and have left trash all over. Bummer. It’s such a great park to launch windsurfers or paddleboards from.
• Social Distancing-regardless if you agree or disagree or have varied opinion on the matter (and oh boy there are a lot of those) we all must do the right thing and follow the Governor’s Orders. A few bad eggs can spoil it for all. Please kindly encourage to your user groups to follow whatever the current directives might be.

Please know that we are doing the best we can with the limited budget and staff available.

A big thanks to all of you for working together to get through this crazy time.

Enjoy this amazing weather!

Port of Hood River
541-386-0972

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Pure Stoke Sports
Hood River, OR
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hood-River-OR/2nd-Wind-Sports/35891485558?ref=mf
www.Purestokesports.com

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knotwindy

Since 25 Sep 2011
598 Posts

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PostWed May 27, 20 6:03 pm     Reply with quote

Thank you both for the updates. Hopefully people will read this and pay attention.
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jaksavage

Since 02 Dec 2009
216 Posts
hood river
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PostThu May 28, 20 6:10 am     Reply with quote

The biggest problem is spectators/picnicers.
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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
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PostThu May 28, 20 2:45 pm     Reply with quote

When my wife went SUPping in Nichols at lunchtime she said it looked like it was closed.

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tree

Since 29 May 2007
147 Posts
Bend, OR
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PostMon Jun 01, 20 7:13 am     Reply with quote

Thank you Pepi, Moon, ldhr, and everyone else who has been working proactively and positively to help find a way to make kiting in HR possible this year.

How has it been working out so far at the event site, or is it too soon to tell? I came through town last week for work but it wasn't windy, so there wasn't any success/carnage to observe.

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
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PostMon Jun 01, 20 7:31 am     Reply with quote

From what I've seen things seem to be OK. When it was nuking and the water was high the other day, there was a decent flow of pumping and launching and landing (though a few minor cases where people could have waited until suiting up to run their lines).

There was a smaller sandbar yesterday and more families lounging, but ES flow seemed OK. My guess is it will be (or would have been) more crowded if there was a bit higher wind - Saturday the wind was too high, Sunday not enough, so both have a crowd-thinning effect.

Not many masks being worn, and several examples of folks likely not from the same household standing closer than 6', so not every aspect was 'sunshine and roses', but didn't seem overly egregious in my opinion - again, partly because not ideal wind, and still early season.

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moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
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PostMon Jun 01, 20 7:32 am     Reply with quote

My feeling is that kiters have been doing a great job with separation with minor group socialization. Yesterday their was a group of young picnicers all sitting together on the grass. Over the holiday, Friday, a prodigious quantity of sun bather mostly young again were on the actual sandbar because of the 90 degree day. It was very challenging to find open launch/land area because of the size of the bar. Saturday was very challenging because of the high winds and basically no bar.
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coupdevill

Since 09 Mar 2016
260 Posts
Hood River, OR
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PostMon Jun 01, 20 10:03 am     Reply with quote

moondog wrote:
My feeling is that kiters have been doing a great job with separation with minor group socialization. Yesterday their was a group of young picnicers all sitting together on the grass. Over the holiday, Friday, a prodigious quantity of sun bather mostly young again were on the actual sandbar because of the 90 degree day. It was very challenging to find open launch/land area because of the size of the bar. Saturday was very challenging because of the high winds and basically no bar.


   00C1A177-9D6C-44AB-B37B-C2A1E01B7ED1_1_201_a.jpeg 

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
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PostMon Jun 01, 20 11:34 am     Reply with quote

At least the ventilation was good on Saturday. (Vientolation? Downwinders were a good call yesterday...).

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ay

Since 11 Oct 2008
109 Posts
HR - ME
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PostThu Jun 04, 20 10:26 am     Reply with quote

moondog wrote:
My feeling is that kiters have been doing a great job with separation with minor group socialization. Yesterday their was a group of young picnicers all sitting together on the grass. Over the holiday, Friday, a prodigious quantity of sun bather mostly young again were on the actual sandbar because of the 90 degree day. It was very challenging to find open launch/land area because of the size of the bar. Saturday was very challenging because of the high winds and basically no bar.


Apparently chilling at the ES is fine now because plenty of self-proclaimed locals were posted up on the lawn for the afternoon. Not setting a great example.

Last edited by ay on Sun Jun 07, 20 1:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
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PostFri Jun 05, 20 10:15 am     Reply with quote

ay wrote:
moondog wrote:
My feeling is that kiters have been doing a great job with separation with minor group socialization. Yesterday their was a group of young picnicers all sitting together on the grass. Over the holiday, Friday, a prodigious quantity of sun bather mostly young again were on the actual sandbar because of the 90 degree day. It was very challenging to find open launch/land area because of the size of the bar. Saturday was very challenging because of the high winds and basically no bar.


Apparently chilling at the ES is fine now because plenty of self-proclaimed locals were posted up in the peanut gallery for the afternoon. Not setting a great example.

It seems to be progressing in the wrong direction. Crowds are still small but thickening. Mainly people are coming in high while others are launching low, despite the lines being painted on the grass. I landed plenty the other day but at least people were pretty cool in wrapping up quickly and getting out of the way - obviously would make no sense to send people back out for coming on too high, so I tried to be friendly and remind some folks why the lines were there. Ended up kiting and chatting with one guy who'd laid his lines out before suiting up, so dropping a friendly hint helped, as people are genuinely excited just to rush out and get wet.

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
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PostSat Jun 06, 20 7:55 am    Port is watching - ares of concern. Reply with quote

Feedback from the Port - they are watching and see 2 activities that threaten our access.
Things are going well - but 2 areas need improvement.

1. Social Distancing - people are clustering and hanging out.
Better to get your kite on and get outta there - Please!

2. Kiters must launch and land where the arrows are painted on the grass.
Please - if you see people launching in the wrong place - be polite and explain the proper system.

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shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
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PostTue Jun 09, 20 3:03 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks for the update ldhr, and your work on our behalf. I was launching and landing the other day and just about everyone was coming in 'westward'... In Through The Out Door (Zeppelin)... anyway, I politely mentioned the arrows and people were nice but seemed not to give it much concern.

So you say they actually painted them there for a reason? Rolling Eyes

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