Construction underway on Vista Field

In less than a year, Vista Field’s first shovel-ready parcels are expected to be available to developers.

Plans to turn the former airport into a 103-acre pedestrian-focused urban center took a tangible step forward with a ground-breaking ceremony in April.

Around March 2020, the first shovel-ready parcels are expected to be made available through the Port of Kennewick to private-sector developers.

“Redeveloping Vista Field is about addressing an identified need for gathering places,” said Tana Bader-Inglima, deputy CEO at the Port of Kennewick. “It’s about honoring the community’s vision for an urban town center. It’s about creating connections for recreation, about a density of development, about multi-generational neighborhoods. A place where small-scale streets and terminated vistas attract those wanting mixed-use neighborhoods. Where walking and biking are embedded in the physical design. Where parks and water features create unique livability and where arts and culture are celebrated as powerful elements of economic development.” 

In March, Port of Kennewick commissioners awarded a $4.9 million contract to Total Site Services of Richland to build the first phase of Vista Field’s redevelopment, which includes roads connecting West Deschutes Avenue with West Grandridge Boulevard, utilities, sidewalks, streetscaping, lighting, a commercial plaza, linear park and a streamlike water feature intersecting the space.

“Knowing the work that has gone on for many years to bring this long-awaited project to the ground-breaking ceremony is very exciting. Total Site Services is looking forward to partnering with the Port of Kennewick and help bring their vision to fruition. I know there has been countless hours of planning and prayers and to have the privilege to be a part of this is a real blessing to myself and the entire TSS team,” said Lisa Chapman-Rosa, managing member, Total Site Services.

Work is expected to be completed by January 2020.

“All is well. We’re moving full-speed ahead,” said Larry Peterson, the port’s director of planning and development.

“It’s been a coordinated dance of multiple pieces of heavy equipment working on different tasks all at the same time … (Total Site Services is) throwing a lot of equipment and manpower at this — a significant effort is being exerted by Total Site Services and their crews.”

Peterson said that the day after the April 22 groundbreaking ceremony, Total Site Services began removing and grinding up the old asphalt tarmac. Five acres of asphalt will be removed, with the intent of recycling the material for use under the new roadways.

As the summer progresses, Peterson said that the concrete bridges spanning the water feature and other paved elements and streetscaping will begin to take shape.

He noted that during the months of May and June, there will be coordinated closures of West Grandridge Boulevard for a few days as crews work to connect utilities and prepare for the new roadway.

In addition, it is projected that sometime during July, the curve on West Deschutes Avenue near West Okanogan Avenue also will be closed for about three weeks with detours and alternative routes for motorists to be made available.

“Once the ports’ phase-one road and utility infrastructure is complete, we look forward to significant private sector investments happening at Vista Field,” Bader-Inglima said.

For more about Vista Field redevelopment, go to portofkennewick.org/projects/vista-field.