New Cordata Park trail opens. Pump track, playground, parkour coming this summer
Trails in the new Cordata Park opened to the public on Wednesday, May 20, but there was no celebration for this much-anticipated green space in the Cordata Neighborhood in north Bellingham.
That’s because most of the statewide social-distancing mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19 remains in place. And that mandate bans gatherings, including celebratory ribbon cuttings.
Nicole Oliver, interim director for the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department, said the park opened “with no fanfare whatsoever.”
There’s no parking yet at the 25-acre park, located on the east side of Cordata Parkway between Stuart and Horton roads. The nearest street parking is on Stuart Road, about 0.2 mile south of the park, according to a city of Bellingham news release on Wednesday.
“This long-awaited community park located in the north end of the city will be of enormous benefit to the residents of this fast-growing area,” Mayor Seth Fleetwood said in a statement. “The rolling meadows, winding trails and many bridges are just part of what is to come once the rest of the park is completed and opened to the public.”
The city of Bellingham began the $6.2 million project to develop the first part of the park on May 20, 2019.
Starting Wednesday, park-goers had access to three-quarters of a mile of relatively flat limestone trails and six bridges at the park as well three large sculptures, according to Oliver.
The artwork was installed at the park’s pedestrian entrances and the $87,000 project was paid for with the city’s 1% for the Arts program.
The trails are 6 to 8 feet wide, with shoulders on either side, according to Oliver.
“This is a soft opening to enable access to the trail network and create excitement for the final push to finish the park,” Oliver said to The Bellingham Herald on Wednesday.
Pretty views at the park include lush meadow grasses, a big open field and plenty of birds, according to Oliver.
The remainder of this part of the project — and likely the more exciting piece of it — will include a children’s playground, paved bicycle pump track, parkour area and adult exercise stations. That is expected to open later this summer.
Oliver hopes Whatcom County will be in the third phase of reopening from the pandemic by then.
Most of Washington state, including Whatcom County, remains in Phase 1 of the state’s phased approach to re-opening businesses and modifying physical distancing measures.
Under Phase 1, high-risk populations are encouraged to stay home and some outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, golf, boating and hiking) is allowed, but no public gatherings are allowed and only travel deemed essential is allowed. Businesses permitted to operate in Phase 1 include: essential businesses, existing construction projects, landscaping, automobile sales, curbside retail pickup, car washes and pet walkers.
In Phase 3, outdoor recreation will loosen up even more, allowing for larger groups of people to gather. The city is waiting until then to reopen its now-closed playgrounds.
“This park is kind of one big playground,” Oliver said. “I hope we will be in Phase 3 when it is done.”
This first part of the park’s construction includes a spray park, which will be the third in Bellingham. But because of the social distancing mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city will not open any of its spray parks this summer.
The city bought the parkland in 2015 with voter-approved Greenway 3 Levy money.
Park impact fees are paying for most of Cordata Park’s development, with additional dollars from the Greenway 4 Levy.
Park landscaping and wetland mitigation planting will begin this fall, city officials said.
Other projects were done in conjunction with the first part of Cordata Park’s development. Those included two pedestrian crossings, lane redesign, protected bike lanes and a new Horton Road roundabout on Cordata Parkway, according to the city release.
The design for the second part of development is planned for this year. It is expected to include pickleball courts, a basketball court, covered stage, park pavilion, pedestrian walkways, lighted parking area and landscaping.
