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WHATCOM FALLS: Trails, trout and a beautiful park
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| Whatcom Falls Park occupies a third of the neighborhood, offering swimming, fishing, kayaking and numerous other outdoor recreational opportunities. HERALD FILE PHOTO
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Kira Millage
This neighborhood is lightly populated but offers what is arguably the best park in the city.
Whatcom Falls Park occupies of the northern third of the neighborhood, with trails, swimming and a trout hatchery operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Most neighborhood residents live on the other side of Lakeway Drive from the park. Sidewalk-lined streets wind between large houses with clean lawns and gardens. Other parts of the neighborhood feature older houses with larger lots.
Kulshan Middle School is tucked away in this quiet neighborhood, which also is home to Bayview Cemetery, the only memorial park in the city. The lone commercial section of the neighborhood is across the street from Whatcom Falls on Electric Avenue. A small strip mall with a gas station and the popular Lafeen's Donuts and Ice Cream provides the only shopping in the neighborhood.
Average age: 36.9 Housing units: 779 Assessed median home value: $137,885 Median home size: 1,550 square feet Schools: Carl Cozier Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, Bellingham/Sehome High School Shopping: Whatcom Falls Mini-Mart is a popular neighborhood spot; Fred Meyer Shopping Center and Lakeway Center, which includes Cost Cutter grocery, are on Lakeway Drive Parks: Whatcom Falls Park, Hannah Creek, Park Creek, Clearbrook Park, Lookout Mountain Park, Cemetary Creek Mayor's Advisory Committee member: Tim Hyatt On the Web: whatcomfalls.org City Council members: John Watts, Grant Deger Police calls in 2003: 372 Residential burglaries: 8 Vehicle prowls: 23 Population of neighborhood: 2,086
STEVE BLOOM Age: 31
Lives on: Clearbrook Place
Lived here: For about a year
Lives with: Wife, kid, cat
What he does: Works as a family physician
What do you like about the area? "We like the access to Whatcom Falls Park and Bloedel-Donovan Park and the lake. I go to all the playgrounds in the area with my 2-year-old. The mountain bike trails aren't too far away, so I hope to use those eventually. I know they're close."
What makes your neighborhood unique? "It's a quiet residential area, and relatively affordable. It's a super quiet street and it's very quiet back here because it's just a subdivision."
Have the neighbors been nice since you've moved in? "I know some of the neighbors. The immediate neighbors have been very friendly. I can't say I know everyone on the block, but it's pretty quiet."
AT A GLANCE
NEIGHBORS PROFILE: 'It's a quiet residential area and relatively affordable'
- KIRA MILLAGE
ENE LEWIS
Age: 63
Lives on: Lakeway Drive
Lived here: Since 1980
Lives with: Husband Eugene
What she does: Teaches ceramics and drawing at Whatcom Community College and owns Indian Street Pottery
Why do you like the neighborhood? "I like its proximity to the city part of Bellingham, and we love Whatcom Falls Park and are in it several days a week. We like to walk. I feel fortunate to have a large house and a piece of property we can garden so close to the center of town."
Why did you move there? "Finding a house and being near a park, not too far from downtown. We didn't choose the neighborhood, actually. It just sort of developed around us."
How has the neighborhood changed over the years? "Remarkable changes. Largely traffic. When we moved here, we didn't think Lakeway was much of anything and we've changed our mind."
- MARY LANE GALLAGHER
KELLY MOLASKI
Age: 46
Lives on: Likely Court
Lived here: 12 years
Lives with: Husband, son, 2 dogs, cockatiel
What she does: Triathlete and dietician
Why do you like living in the neighborhood? "The park (Whatcom Falls Park), because of the trails. I can have access to lots of different areas by scooting through the trails. I can go on a three-hour run and probably 65 percent of it can be on the trails through the whole city. There are so many of them, it's so wonderful.
Is it a friendly area? "I would say, walking the dogs through the park, just the different people you meet that are also out there with their pets, makes it kind of special. Your animals grow up and you meet the same people in the park that know your dogs."
Do you take advantage of any amenities in the area? "LaFeen's (Donuts & Ice Cream). That's like a weekly stop for my son."
- KIRA MILLAGE
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