The event's queen arrived by boat in Richland's Howard Amon Park, and the festivities included a performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest, which has a nautical setting. Other Year of the River events were new, like the opening ceremonies for the Columbia Park family fishing pond and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Masters Tournament set for the end of September. It's unique and separates us from our competition. This year truly is going to be a launching pad for future development. The nonprofit agency also is raising funds this summer to finance the continued river emphasis and is attracting record numbers of convention delegates to town.
Tourism ranks fourth among Washington state industries.
In the past six months, bureau employees have fielded 9,600 visitor inquiries from phone calls, letters and walk-ins to the bureau office at Kennewick's Vista Field Airport. With all the grant money, the bureau hasn't needed to spend its regular hotel-motel tax revenue on the Year of the River. But the 3161 grants end in December. As we diversify from Hanford, we can make a difference. We can shape this community, take ownership of it.