New and Changing Parks on Big and Little Squalicum

Tim Wahl is Greenway project coordinator for the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. Tim spent his formative years near Squalicum Beach and Little and Big Squalicum ravines.

This is the seventeenth in a series examining Bellingham’s parks.

Created: 1975

Location: Bellingham city limits, where Eldridge Ave. becomes Marine Dr.

Area: 23 acres

Little Squalicum Park was conceived by Terry Wahl in the 1970s, then a member of the Whatcom County Parks board. Since the first county purchase (under the direction of Ken Hertz) of the old creek ravine gravel pit, the city has added an additional 10 acres.

Recently acquired tracts include the Helen and Gordon Parberry parcel next to Oak Harbor Freight (not open to the public yet) and the Tilbury rail grade parcel running from West Illinois Street to the bay.

The Parks Department hopes to initiate a site planning process for the park toward the end of 2002, to prepare a master plan that will incorporate a funded “half-bridge” trail along the sea bluff between the Mt. Baker Plywood and the Little Squalicum ravine, a restored estuary beneath and behind the Burlington Northern trestle and an extensively restored natural area in the old gravel pit.

Restoration of the old gravel pit will involve retaining more water in wetlands, treating storm water and using spring flows for wildlife and fish habitat. Negotiations are proceeding with the Port of Bellingham to bring the port-owned beach and tidelands to the park area, including the recently opened public parking area at the end of Roeder Avenue next to the plywood plant.

In spite of the recent Washington State Supreme Court decision making annexation more difficult, the city, port and county continue to pursue annexation for the park area, primarily to provide better law enforcement.

Challenges ahead at Little Squalicum Park include determining best management practices and project elements for:

•Limiting the impact of people and off-leash dogs on wildlife,

•Preserving the character of the beach and slopes,

•Law enforcement and beach regulations,

•Limiting kayak impacts on waterfowl roosting,

•Allocation of shoreline uplands to people versus car parking, and

•Property and compensation issues surrounding treatment of storm water.

The lack of beach upland at high tides and the narrow nature of the floor of the ravine make these issues more critical.

In January, the City Council unanimously voted to acquire (thereby rezoning for public use) the old Lind Gravel pit site on Squalicum Way, for construction of a major park and recreation site. Closing of the transaction is anticipated in late April.

In 1997, Bellingham voters approved the purchase of such a tract, one combining natural areas and more intensely developed athletic fields. Parks staff examined various industrial properties for this 1997 Greenway levy project over several years before deciding on the Pacific Concrete Industries (PCI) site.

Athletic fields, commonly sited on industrial land, were not practical at other sites due to their location, soils and wetlands. Strong arguments for conversion of the site to public recreation included its 360-degree border of residential development, the adjacent salmon spawning waters, and its location on major trail and arterial street corridors.

Site plan concepts include softball and soccer fields near the center of the 35-acre pit site north of Squalicum Way, surrounded by restored wetlands, salmon spawning channels, and more passive park uses such as trails and picnicking. Another seven acres lie south of Squalicum Way and are envisioned as passive, wildlife habitat next the creek, with minimal foot trails and sitting areas and riparian habitat enhancement.

With West Street, trails on the Pacific Concrete Industries site will link the Columbia neighborhood with the Birchwood and Alderwood neighborhoods, the Bay to Baker Trail and the future greenway along the west side of the airport.

Challenges ahead for the Pacific Concrete Industries site include naming the site, calming traffic and mitigating traffic impacts on West Street, defining the need for and nature of field lighting, managing the site prior to the time it is developed (a period that may extend over several years), obtaining development funds, and phasing development.