Newest park brought little fanfare but plenty of fun to ‘underserved’ part of Bellingham
It was a quiet launch but the city’s north end now has a long-awaited community park for a growing area of Bellingham.
The first phase of Cordata Park development, at a cost of $6.5 million, had a soft opening on Friday, Sept. 4. It is in the Cordata Neighborhood.
In another time, without social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a crowd might have gathered together to cheer its opening, which makes available the first paved bicycle pump track in Bellingham.
“We’re sorry that we can’t all gather to celebrate,” said Nicole Oliver, director of the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. “I wish we could.”
So what’s available to the public in this phase of the development for the 25-acre park, located on the east side of Cordata Parkway between Stuart and Horton roads? That would be the pump track, restrooms, picnic shelter and picnic tables, lawn, benches, bike racks, and a lighted parking lot with spaces for 72 vehicles, as well as bus parking.
Nearly a mile of new trails in the park, which also were part of this phase of development, opened in May.
Also built — but not yet accessible to the public because of COVID-19 — are the parkour area, playground and adult fitness equipment. All are “high touch” and will remain closed until Whatcom County enters phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Safe Start” plan, according to Oliver.
All playgrounds in Bellingham city parks have been closed until phase 3.
Cordata Park also has a new spray park, which is the third one in Bellingham. However, the city didn’t operate any this summer due to COVID-19 social distancing.
Bellingham officials said the park’s parkour area, a sort of obstacle course, is the first outdoor one in Washington state.
Oliver said the city concentrated most of the park’s development in this first part “to deliver a lot of amenities to a very underserved part of town.”
“It’s been a long-identified need. We’re really excited about this park. It’s a unique and special place,” she said.
Officials expect a “highly diverse population” of 8,075 residents living within one mile of the park, 50% of which are low income, will use it.
“It’s going to be a great new place for people to get outside. It’s going to serve this neighborhood from now and into the future,” Oliver said.
The money for developing this first part of the park also will cover landscaping — 6,458 trees, shrubs and ground cover — and wetland mitigation, by planting an additional 7,710 trees and bushes.
Landscaping will start in October. Mitigation planting will begin in January.
The city of Bellingham 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.
Construction of the second part of the park could start in 2022 or 2023, according to Oliver.
It is expected to include pickleball courts, a basketball court, a covered stage with a seating area, park pavilion, lighted parking and a children’s fun area.
