Everyone knows about the public boat ramp at Columbia River Park, but there’s another boat ramp – less well known – that’s also open to the public. Anyone wishing to use it simply needs to follow Union Street past the intersection with Front Street, then across the railroad tracks and towards the river.
The ramp is a bit unkempt but paved well enough to allow a vehicle and trailer access to the river. According to a representative of the borough’s highway department, this lower section of Union Street is public, as is access to the river via the ramp. Potential confusion is created by two PRIVATE PROPERTY signs standing on both sides of the road, several yards past the railroad tracks. The signs, which designate property owners’ private tracts may have been strategically placed to discourage traffic on this block of Union – and to the river.
Columbia Spy has also been informed that, under federal law, access to the shoreline is a public right. In other words, you may walk along it, despite property lines, where physically possible. Rivers are subject to federal navigational servitude, including federal navigational easement, as explained HERE and HERE.
Here’s a view not everyone gets to enjoy. This photo was taken from the boat ramp.
(The following information was provided by Heather Lynn Drescher.)
On May 5, 2005, Heather Lynn Drescher was driving her minivan near the intersection of Fifth and Maple Streets when it was struck by another vehicle. The impact caused the van to roll downhill towards the clock tower at the NAWCC museum until it came to rest on its roof.
A stranger then crawled into the back of the vehicle, rescuing Ms. Drescher’s 18-month-old son and handing him to her. After making sure everyone was all right, the mystery woman left the scene, explaining that she needed to get to work.
Ms. Drescher has been looking for this woman for 10 years. If anyone knows her identity, contact Heather Lynn Drescher via her Facebook page.
