Downtown Marina & Joan Darrah Promenade
Stockton, California
Stockton’s Downtown Marina & Joan Darrah Promenade represents a complete transformation of the old Stockton waterfront. The stunning exterior space is drawing local residents and outside visitors alike to experience the excitement of Stockton’s revitalized downtown marina area.
A new 6,900 linear foot pedestrian promenade encircles the north and south shore waterfront, provides a link between the marina and nearby public destinations including a new sports arena and ballpark. The walking surface of the promenade is a mix of colored, broom-finish concrete, colored sandblasted concrete and pavers, creating a unique flatwork pattern along the entire promenade. Accented with steel railings and a number of gangway entrances, the promenade varies in width from 20 to 60 feet as it follows the downtown Stockton shoreline. A variety of public artwork is displayed in plaza spaces at various axis points along the promenade.
New landscaping and park features, restroom facilities, parking areas and access improvements enhance enjoyment of the Joan Darrah Promenade area.
The crown jewel of the waterfront project is the new, 66-berth Downtown Marina. Consisting of six 80-foot slips, twelve 60-foot slips and forty-eight 50-foot slips, the marina is designed to accommodate a wide variety of pleasure craft. The mooring structure is anchored to the river bottom by 109 20-inch-diameter, open-ended steel piles.
A unique Sheerfill architectural fabric tensile structure covers the 50-foot slips, providing shelter from the Central Valley sun and giving the marina a dynamic visual signature that is reminiscent of the great sailing vessels that ventured upriver from San Francisco to the inland port of Stockton during California’s gold rush.
In a traditional covered dock system, the roof structure is attached to the dock, and moves up and down with the dock as the tides change. The Downtown Marina roof system is attached to the piles, not to the dock, so it remains at a set height despite tidal activity. This approach gives the marina’s structure a more permanent and monumental aesthetic, but required some special considerations – including making sure there was enough clearance for the tallest boats to fit under the dock’s roof at the highest predicted water levels.
In addition to the main marina berths, the south shore of the facility offers an additional 520 linear feet of transient dock space. These short-term guest moorings provide direct access to shopping, local parks, and numerous other attractions in Stockton’s revitalized downtown waterfront area. In addition, two side-tie docks on the north shore of the marina basin provide another 878 feet of moorage, and accommodate visitors traveling to by water to attend local sporting events.
