This Facebook group was created after a community meeting with the Port of Bremerton ten years ago, in 2012. The community learned at that meeting that engineering surveys indicated that the old dock was failing and would best be replaced. Like old bones, wooden piers don’t last forever. Our community was heartbroken. Generations of families had walked out on the boardwalk, initials were carved in the railings, weddings and memorials were celebrated there. The pier was a haven for bird and marine life, and a destination for photographers. Fishermen reeled in salmon, pulled up crab, and jigged for squid. Because our community did not want to lose this special place, we formed a small advocacy group and created this Facebook group to keep people involved as our community advocated for the refurbishment of the old dock, or if that could not happen, to advocate for the necessary funds to replace it. The process began. We wrote letters to the commissioners and our legislators. We posted periodic newsletters on Facebook and put printed copies out by the pier for people to pick up and read.

By the fall of 2012, it was certain that the old dock was to be demolished. On October 28, 2012, members of the community gathered to celebrate over 100 years of service at Harper and to take one last walk out on the beloved old dock. The dock was to be closed on Nov. 1, 2012. This is a wonderful community of involved citizens, and many attended. We enjoyed refreshments and all of us shared memories of the dock. If we could not save the old dock, we were determined to celebrate a new pier going up in the future.

Prior to the removal of the dock, our then State Representative, Derek Kilmer, secured funding for the removal of the old dock and for design and permitting. The Port of Bremerton applied for funds from ALEA (Aquatic Land Enhancement Account) to build a new pier. In February 2013, a barge and crane arrived, and the demolition began. How sad it was to see the dock come down and its timbers hauled away. Many came out to watch, and this sad sight gave our community renewed resolve to keep advocating for those funds to be granted. The community sent many more letters to the legislators and Port Commissioners. We wanted a replacement Pier!

From then on, it was watch and wait. Would the ALEA funds go through? Would the state legislators allocate additional funds to supplement the ALEA grant? In July of 2013, we learned that the funds had come through for a total of $1,300,000, $500,000 from the ALEA grant, and $800,000 from the State Department of Commerce. We all knew that it would take some more time, but we were relieved and thankful that the funding came through. We had hoped that the first pilings would go in by the beginning of 2014, but the permitting process took much longer than anticipated.

On July 12, 2014, once again, our whole community came together to help meet one more mitigation condition. The Department of Natural Resources required that the beaches around the pier and surrounding properties be cleared. We hauled debris and large pieces of concrete from the beaches and the Port of Bremerton brought in big dump trucks to haul it all away.

Before sunrise on September 29, 2014, a tug pulling a barge loaded with a crane and pilings appeared. It was such a happy sight. Construction would finally begin.

Joyfully, on January 16, 2015, the community gathered to celebrate the Grand Opening of the New Harper Pier. We had sunshine that day. The late Betty Juneau, cut the tape to welcome people onto the new pier. The Port Commissioners attended. Our, by then, US Representative Derek Kilmer spoke. There were plenty of smiles as people walked under the balloon festoon to take their first steps on the new pier. It was a historic and wonderful day. Once again, we had a place for all the recreational pursuits we enjoyed. The heart of the community was restored.

Now, this group has a new battle. This past year, we learned that Kitsap Transit was proposing to use Harper Pier to moor and maintain their fast ferries. Once again, our community is stepping up to the challenge. We now have a companion website for people who do not use Facebook. It is https://www.friendsofharperpier.org. We are also sending emails and periodic newsletters. This past October, many attended a community meeting either in person or virtually to listen to Kitsap Transit’s plans. We made our concerns known then and will continue to do so.

In a recent article in the Kitsap Daily News, John Clauson, Kitsap Transit Director, stated that they are weighing their options and have met with Washington State Ferries about using Southworth. This is encouraging, but in no way is this a done deal. We will let Kitsap Transit know that we appreciate that they are actively considering Southworth. At the same time, we must remain vigilant, keep our signs up, and continue to tell Kitsap Transit that a pier located in a residential area that was built for recreational purposes is not a good option for ferry moorage. We must keep letting them know about the many environmental concerns, and that we will continue to vigorously resist any efforts to industrialize Harper Pier.

Thanks to all the members of this group We are an amazing community that gets things done.

Molly Rainey