When will Vallejo’s public boat launch finally open?

VALLEJO — Boaters who pass by the fenced-off public boat launch on Vallejo’s waterfront may be scratching their heads, wondering when it will reopen. 

The facility has been closed to the public since early 2024, when PG&E began cleanup of contamination from a gas plant that operated at the site from 1872 to 1930. Boating at the site had dwindled significantly prior to the closure due to shallow water caused by lack of dredging and an encampment that created an obstacle course to reach the water.

The encampment has since been evicted, and PG&E says the restoration of the site is complete. But It now appears that the parking lot will not reopen for several months, and dredging that will make the facility fully functional may take much more time, as it is dependent on grant funding that has not materialized.

Banners on the chain link fence surrounding the facility say “Vallejo Public Boat Launch Parking Lot Restoration September 2024 – Summer 2025.” In a report published in the Vallejo Weekly on Feb 16, 2026, PG&E wrote that planned construction activities had largely been completed, with one remaining task of installing an electrical transformer, which would be done in the “coming months.” 

The parking lot has been repaved and landscaped, with new lighting, restrooms, EV chargers and parking kiosks. No active work is visibly underway, and the only human presence at the site is a solitary security truck parked in the middle of the lot.

City spokesperson Robert Briseño said in an email that the delay is because the city of Vallejo will not accept transfer of the site from PG&E’s control until all of the restoration work passes code compliance, and the sidewalks do not meet ADA standards that require at least one fully accessible path from the parking area to the boat ramp.

Briseño wrote that a PG&E contractor is actively designing corrections for the non‑compliant sidewalk sections, and is working on installing and repairing the drainage for the boat wash. 

City staff met with PG&E last week to discuss next steps for restoring public access to the site. Briseño wrote that  the meeting was productive and that progress continues to be made. He said that required documentation and project-related details remain under PG&E's review, and that the city anticipates receiving additional scheduling information within the coming weeks.

The city is responsible for maintenance of the infrastructure that make it possible to put a boat into the water: the docks, dredging, and seawall. One of the two floating docks needs repair, which will not begin until the transfer from PG&E is complete. Once the city has access to the property, the work necessary to restore public access to the boat ramp is expected to take approximately six weeks. 

But the extensive silt build up at the boat launch, which was last dredged 28 years ago, is the biggest issue for boaters. More mud than water is visible next to the docks at low tide, making it impossible to launch even a  kayak for several hours each day. Maintenance of the seawall, which protects the surrounding area from silt buildup, has also been neglected. When the facility does eventually open, boaters will have to carefully check tide charts to make sure they can embark and return safely.

The city has no funds for dredging, or for sediment sampling – a precursor to dredging. City staff’s request to expand a California Natural Resources Agency the grant for sediment sampling for the Vallejo Marina to include the boat ramp was recently denied. 

“While this limitation prevents the use of current grant funding for dredging activities, City staff will continue to pursue and evaluate alternative funding opportunities to address this critical infrastructure and access need,” Briseño wrote. “The City remains committed to identifying viable solutions that support the long-term functionality and sustainability of the boat launch.”

The Municipal Marina, like the public boat launch, suffers from lack of dredging, seawall and dock maintenance and is now down to about 30% occupancy. A once-bustling fishing pier and marina behind what is now Sunshine Smoothies closed in the mid-90s, and is now fenced  to prevent vehicle access.

The city’s waterfront – a pleasant stroll from the historic downtown – has been touted as an asset, but water-related recreation and boating activities have declined steadily over the past three decades as boating facilities have been closed or neglected. Only the private Vallejo Yacht Club has been well maintained. 

Proposals that would expand Vallejo’s recreational water access have been put forward in the past, but none have come to fruition.

The City Council authorized a consultant contract On Sept. 8 with SITELAB urban studio to update the Vallejo Waterfront Specific Plan. The agreement includes development of a community engagement strategy, with stakeholder interviews and public workshops to be scheduled during the first nine months of the 18-month project. Once the plan is approved, funds and a developer will be needed to bring them to reality. Any added water access points that might result from that project will be years in the making.