City of Yachats·Other Yachats Community News

Transfer of Ocean View Drive to city of Yachats slowing work on proposed estuary boardwalk

**A drawing by Civil West Engineering shows what the proposed Yachats estuary boardwalk along Ocean View Drive would look like.**

By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews

YACHATS – Anyone holding their breath in anticipation of construction beginning on the estuary boardwalk can exhale. It’s going to be awhile.

The walkway with a bump-out viewing platform, benches and lights along Ocean View Drive between Beach Street and U.S. Highway 101 has been talked about for years. But while progress is being made, best estimates have construction beginning the summer of 2026.

“We’ve got a few big things complete, the archeology, engineering, preparation for the undergrounding of utilities and project budget,” said Yachats city manager Bobbi Price.

Archeology digs found evidence of a Native American site known as a midden or shell pile, but details are confidential as archeologists work out what that means for local tribes.

“It took us back to the drawing board on how to span across that space,” Price said.

Garret Jaros **The proposed Yachats estuary boardwalk would stretch from the edge of Ocean View Drive and over the bank of the Yachats River.**

Another hiccup for moving the project forward is that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department turned down the city’s application for a grant that would pay for 80 percent of the project. The reason being that Lincoln County, which owns Ocean View Drive, has yet to transfer ownership to the city even after years of talks and paperwork between the two governments.

Lincoln County commissioners are scheduled to be briefed on the transfer during their meeting Wednesday. Price expects the ownership transfer to be complete by September.

The city will then re-apply for the state parks grant during the next cycle in December and January with awards being announced in July 2025.

Based on communication with the parks department, Price is confident the city will receive the grant and that construction on putting utilities under ground could begin prior to 2026.

So far the city has paid $20,000 for the archeology study and design work by Civil West Engineering of Newport. The cost of the project is estimated to be $1.2 million with city funds coming out of the budget for capital improvement projects.

“It will really enhance the safety for our visitors and local residents that are walking along Ocean View Drive in that location,” Price said. “We’ve heard of quite a few instances of people sliding or falling down that bank. So it will increase the safety with car traffic and pedestrians there and also just be a beautiful place for people to sit and take in the view of the estuary.”