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Energy Merwin Dam Park
Sunlit park with picnic shelters, picnic tables, and a paved path under leafy trees, with morning mist and forested hills in the background.
Project Location
Cowlitz County, WA
Client PacifiCorp
Market Sector
Project Type
  • Shoreline Recreation
Services Provided

Project Highlights

  • Delivered ADA improvements per FERC settlement, including loop paths, beach access, and parking upgrades.
  • Designed and implemented new day-use amenities such as picnic shelters, play areas, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits.
  • Supported environmental permitting, shoreline stabilization, and improved site circulation by reconfiguring the entry station.

Project Description

Merwin Dam Park, located in Cowlitz County, WA, is one of the older recreational facilities on the Lewis River reservoir and requires modernization to meet current ADA standards. MacKay Sposito was contracted to redesign and upgrade the park as part of PacifiCorp’s FERC license requirements. Enhancements included ADA-compliant pathways, improved parking, and accessible beach access, transforming the park into a more inclusive public space.

The project introduced new day-use features, including two picnic shelters, a new playground, upgraded picnic zones, volleyball and horseshoe courts, and interpretive signage. Redesigning the entry station enhanced the site’s circulation, while shoreline stabilization features were incorporated to promote long-term environmental resilience. MacKay Sposito provided landscape architecture, civil engineering, land surveying, and construction inspection services. The firm also played a key role in coordinating environmental permitting with PacifiCorp.