2007 Parks and Recreation Department Objectives with Accomplishments
Complete or begin major capital projects including: Phase I
Squalicum Creek Park, playground replacements at lower Whatcom Falls and
South Cornwall Parks, Joe Martin stadium renovation, track resurfacing at
Civic Field, Skatepark addition, replace restroom at Whatcom Falls Park,
improve sports lighting at Geri Fields, enclose the patio at Arne Hanna
Aquatic Center and construct a storage building at Joe Martin Stadium.
- Phase I Squalicum Creek Park – 95% complete
- Whatcom Falls and South Cornwall – design 90% complete
- Joe Martin Stadium renovation – complete
- Track resurfacing – complete
- Skatepark addition – complete
- Whatcom Falls Park Restroom – design complete
- Arne Hanna Aquatic Center Design – consultant selected
- Joe Martin Storage Building – complete
- Geri Field lighting – design 80% complete
Work cooperatively with the Port of Bellingham and other City
departments on the planning efforts required for the New Whatcom Development
Area. (Council Goal 4)
- In 2007 the Parks Department worked cooperatively with the Port of
Bellingham to provide input for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the New Whatcom Redevelopment Area. The Final EIS is scheduled for
completion in June 2008.
Acquire lands for parks, trails and greenways in north
Bellingham. After acquisition, begin design phase for park construction.
(Council Goal 6)
- Acquired 20 acre park in Cordata Area.
- Acquired 5 acre open space in Cordata Area.
- Negotiating on several other parcels in North Bellingham
Complete or begin various trail projects including: design and
initial construction of the Whatcom Creek Trail from Racine to Ellis, design
trail corridor from Big Rock Park to the Klipsun Trail and Northridge Park,
Phase II construction of the Coast Millennium Trail improvements at
Squalicum/Bay to Baker, Whatcom Creek Trail to Civic Athletic Complex,
design Phase II trails at Northridge Park, acquire land for Bay to Baker
Trail, complete design and begin construction of Woodstock Farm access
trails and Inspiration Point overlook
- Whatcom Creek Racine to Meador – Design complete, waiting on DOT
lease; Racine to Ellis unfunded
- Big Rock Trail – project scoping complete
- Whatcom Creek trail to Civic (Racine to Fraser) - complete
- Coast Millennium Trail Phase II Squalicum Connector – complete
- Woodstock Farm Access and Inspiration Point Overlook - survey work
complete, design phase started
Begin six-year update of the Park, Open Space and Recreation Plan
for adoption in 2008.
- Consultant selected; inventory updated.
Begin implementation of the new Parks and Recreation Department
signage system starting with the replacement of old and damaged signs and
the expansion of regulatory/informational signs
- Installed updated dog regulation signs in Cornwall, Lake Padden and
Whatcom Falls Community Parks
- Installed new signage and wayfinding system at Civic Athletic
Complex
Work cooperatively with the Police Department and other
regulatory agencies, to ensure compliance with park ordinances and policies.
- The anticipated Park Cadet program, provided through the Police
Department, did not receive enough candidates
- Contracted with the Whatcom Humane Society for dog off-leash patrol
and enforcement within the Park System
Complete the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RIFS)
for Little Squalicum Park and work with the County and other State and
federal regulatory agencies to arrive at a resolution to this problem.
- Draft-final RI completed; scope expanded to include road project.
Settlements with insurance companies reached.
Provide public outreach to establish priorities and identify
potential expenditures of the Greenways III Levy money. (Council Goal 6)
- Public outreach complete; Greenway Committee priorities for initial
funding established.
Additional Accomplishments
- Negotiated Woods Coffee lease of Boulevard Park pottery studio.
- Negotiated lease for Management/Maintenance of Lake Padden Golf
Course.
- Resolved potential Bellingham Bells lawsuit.
- Updated Bayview Cemetery fees and charges.
-
Parks Design Standards Manual complete and available for public
access on website.
- Franklin Park Playground Design complete; CDBG funded park site
development plan 10% complete.
- CDBG funded Old Village Trail Construction 95% complete.
- Acquired two tracts totaling 4.25 acres on Samish Hill.
- Completed final phase of Taylor Dock including street trees, curb,
sidewalk, and parallel on-street parking along 10th Street.
- Completed permitting for the shelter donation at Boulevard park.
- Achieved mitigation goal for eelgrass establishment at Taylor
Dock.
