Beach Building Bingo: basalt stones line up for winner at Klindt’s Cove

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., May 29, 2026 — Jon Roderick and Martin Revas were doing some heavy lifting at Klindt’s Cove Pocket Park in the Port of The Dalles on Thursday afternoon as they placed recovered rock from the Lewis & Clark pond into a retaining wall at the beautiful beach location on Klindt Drive.

Workers have removed invasive plants near the beach, opening it up to even more would-be swimmers and sunbathers.

J.J. Castro and his crew were soaking in the rays back in February while doing some difficult digging in the fountain pool at Lewis & Clark Festival Park off Union Street in The Dalles. Castro said they are resetting the fountain with new drainage, filters and a liner and concrete pool in preparation for reinstalling the sculpture at the site. Rock removed during the project was reused in the retaining wall at Klindt’s Cove.

It’s going to be quite a compliment to Riverfront Trail when completed in weeks to come.

Jon Roderick operates the backhoe as Martin Revas helps in setting the basalt stones in place along the upper bank of the cove.

Eventually Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation will bring in additional sand to make the site increasingly user friendly.

In addition, a small dock that is currently tied to the nearby rocks will be moved out into the cove and anchored, providing a perfect swimming destination when temperatures go triple digits in months to come.