Something new is opening in Belfair this week — and it’s been a long time coming.
The Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park will hold its official ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, April 10 at 1 p.m., hosted by the North Mason Chamber of Commerce. The park sits just off Highway 3, right next to Belfair Elementary School and across from the Theler Wetlands — a spot many of you drive past every day.
This isn’t your average park. The Sweetwater Creek project, developed through a partnership between the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (PNW Salmon Center) and the Port of Allyn, features the only freshwater ADA-accessible fishing access in Mason County, along with new bridges, trails, a nature playground built from natural materials like boulders and logs, native plant installations, and even solar panels and a small hydropower system. It’s free and open to the public.
After years of planning, grant compliance work, and community effort, the park officially opened to the public on March 31 — and now it’s time to celebrate. Mark your calendars for April 10 and come say hi to your neighbors. North Mason does community right.
What’s Opening & What’s Coming
- Sweetwater Creek Waterwheel Park: Open since March 31. Ribbon cutting April 10 at 1 PM. Free, ADA accessible. Only freshwater ADA fishing access in Mason County.
- Puget Sound West Industrial (25400 SR-3): Class A industrial development at the Mason/Kitsap county line, up to 1.4 million SF planned. Phase I underway. Sewer capacity expansion along Hwy 3 corridor is in progress to support growth.
- Port of Allyn: Development partner on Sweetwater Creek and a longtime Mason County economic anchor (18560 E. SR-3, Allyn WA).
Sources: Mason County Journal, PNW Salmon Center, Port of Allyn, North Mason Chamber of Commerce
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