Bellingham’s latest 66-acre land buy is part of plan for trail connecting popular parks
Bellingham is buying several forested sites on the city’s east side for $4 million, part of a long-planned trail connecting two beloved city parks.
City Council members voted unanimously Monday, Feb. 10, to buy properties totaling 66 acres in the area known as the Samish Crest open space. The deal closes March 7.
Funds from the voter-approved Greenways levy are being used to buy the land from Mickey and Carole Ghio, Cal Leenstra, and Bernetta Leenstra, city of Bellingham spokeswoman Melissa Morin told The Herald.
“This purchase helps fulfill a long-standing city goal to establish a north-south multimodal trail connection between Whatcom Falls Park and Lake Padden Park, as well as supporting goals related to water quality protection at Lake Padden, preserving tree canopy and contiguous open space, and protecting wildlife habitat,” Morin said in an email.
Unofficial “social trails” made by hikers and bikers already criss-cross the area, which is north of the South Hills neighborhood, east of the Samish neighborhood and west of Wade King Elementary.
