Port of Umatilla provides tree maintenance, gravel, playgrounds for real estate contract transaction

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Port of Umatilla paid $460,000 of in-kind services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District for a real estate contract transaction. This is one of the largest in-kind consideration agreements the district has ever worked.

The real estate transaction was an easement renewal which re-authorizes the use of railroad spur tracks and two water lines belonging to the Port of Umatilla located on McNary project lands. This property was valued at $460,000 for the 25-year term of the easement. The port entered into the easement agreement and paid the consideration in the form of in-kind services. These services include:

• Four new playgrounds for four locations: Hood Park day-use area, Hood Park campground, West Park and McNary Beach, totaling $233,710.
• Tree maintenance services at Hood Park, totaling $150,253.
• Gravel deliveries for McNary Beach and Sand Station recreation areas, totaling $76,036.

The tree maintenance services were performed in February and included safety trimming of approximately 130 trees. The gravel delivery also took place in February. The playground equipment was delivered in April.

“It has been my distinct pleasure to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the past 30 years in the capacity of general manager,” Kim Puzey, General Manager for the Port of Umatilla, said.

“With these in-kind payments we have been able to accomplish multiple projects that otherwise would not have been done within our current operating budget. The new playgrounds will be used to replace older, well used ones making it safer and more cost effective for the visiting public," Kye Carpenter, Natural Resource Specialist at Tri-Rivers Natural Resource Management Office, said. "Additionally, the tree work that was accomplished in Hood Park is both aesthetically pleasing as well as helping make the park much safer for the public. All these projects allow the money to stay local and benefit those that use these parks while allowing USACE to be better stewards of these parks.”

This is not the first time the Walla Walla District has accepted in-kind services for easements on McNary project lands. In the last five years, the district has received five picnic tables, a vault toilet at Hood Park, a swing set at West Park, electrical upgrades for Hood Park, boulders for Columbia River Road, and gravel for Cargill Pond totaling $122,072.17.