The city of DesMoines is planning improvements to the boat ramp and parking lot. Some of the work includes rezoning the parking area during morning, afternoon, and evening hours for use by boat trailers or personal vehicles. The gates may also be put on a automatic clock system. Those of us who use the ramp in the summer know how backed up the traffic can get. They are also planning to extend the existing dock, add a second dock and replace/add steel pilings. While all of this is welcome news, not only have they decided to do all of the work during the middle of the summer (.ie shutting down the ramp for 2-3 months), but are still planning on pulling BOTH docks every fall thru winter as they do presently. There is no reason that the city cannot leave atleast one or two floats for fall/winter use. the good news is that the city engineer I spoke with seems to indicate that the city has not yet made any firm decisions yet, and may be open to feedback. I plan on being at the city council meeting in Des Moines on Thursday 23 at 7:30pm (216th and 11th ave. s.) hoping to point out that ,not only is the Redondo ramp one of the only 24hr accessable boat launches between Seattle and Tacoma, but closing it down during peak season, and especially pulling all floats for 5-6 months out of the year is very short sighted. Am I the only one who feels this way?

While it would be nice if they left the docks there over the winter, they are very susceptable to winter storm damage. Was only a few years ago when the entire seawall down there had to be replaced. That ramp is handy, but it sure does get nasty when the wind picks up just a little.

I am looking forward to the improvments. I use that launch all the time in the summer.

They should build one float/ramp for fisherman and one float/ramp for pleasure boaters.

Pulling the floats out for the winter time is a good idea. That shoreline gets thrashed from winter storms.

The city should find another time to do the new construction or make a temporary ramp until the newer ramp/float(s) is done being built.

I do understand why the city would want to build in the summer though. Good weather and minus tides in the afternoon are perfect for construction.

Hate to belabor the point, but the floats were damaged back in '90-91. Even back then the floats were in poor shape. I do happen to work in a structural field that leads me to believe that by using steel piers, new floats, and a little planning we could have a boat ramp for use year 'round. My point is that, as high as the tides are in the fall/winter, only one or two floats would need to be left for use of everyone.

You probably already know, but the dock/floats are all pulled out for the winter now. Without them you have to run all the way to Tacoma for an after hours ramp.

The city needs to put in a breakwater before they even think about leaving the floats in year round. This ramp and shoreline really gets pounded by winter storms.If they were to leave them in all winter they would be destroyed by spring.I have seen more than afew boats swamped on that ramp when the wind comes from the NW.The city is only making these "improvments" to justify the removal of the slings and parking area at the marina.If the city was smart they would lenthen the fishing pier out and add on to the south leg of it adding solid planking to the seaward face to make a good breakwater. That might help make this ramp a little safer to use in poor conditions.

Oh yea. You can bet that when they get done with the "improvments" that the price to launch/park will most likly double. And they will make all areas outside of the pay for parking lot no trailers allowed.