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POSTED: Thursday, Jul. 09, 2009

Resident input sought for Little Squalicum Park

BELLINGHAM - City officials want to hear from residents on their vision for Little Squalicum Park, an area near Marine Drive that has major pollution but will be cleaned up and developed with parks features.

The city will hold a public meeting to get feedback on the proposed master plan for the area, which is just west of Bellingham Technical College.

To expedite the creation of the plan, which will spell out how the park is developed, the city will start with already-created plans for the area, including a drawing done in May, according to the city. That drawing shows three meadow areas and a series of main and secondary trails weaving through the area.

Park development is limited by the topography of the creek's ravine.

"There's only so much you can do with the site just based on the ravine and the steep slopes and the water sources that are coming in here," said Gina Gobo Austin, project engineer at the parks department.

A recently released study found that past operations at nearby Oeser Co. have polluted the property, and the federal government will take the lead in its cleanup within the next year. An old landfill there has also polluted, and that'll be cleaned up by the city.

Plans for the cleanup will happen at the same time the city creates a plan for the park.

The cleanup will result in a topography called for in the park master plan, not the other way around, Austin said.

"We might as well have them restore it to the master plan status," she said.

The focus of the park plan discussion is really on trails and where they connect, as well as the location of the proposed restrooms, benches and any playground equipment, she said. Also, the area has lots of mosquitoes, and officials will talk about control measures like allowing more sunlight into the park and planting plants that attract mosquito predators.

The city has a total of $75,000 from taxes on the sale of real estate to do the master plan. Austin said because money for park construction hasn't been budgeted, she doesn't know when it could be built.

ATTEND THE MEETING

What: Bellingham Parks and Recreation meeting to get residents' visions of the new Little Squalicum Park, near Bellingham Technical College and Marine Drive. This is the first of three meetings. Before the meetings, experts will give a public tour of the property.

When: 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, for the tour, 7 p.m. for the meeting.

Where: Tour will start at the Marine Drive trailhead across from Oak Harbor Freight, meeting is at Fireplace Meeting Room, 625 Halleck St.

For more information: Click here for details on the master plan.