BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new park is coming soon for residents in northern Bellingham as the City Council plans to use funds from the Greenways Program.
The Bellingham City Council announced that they approved the sale of over 116 acres of land near the Mount Baker Highway for the future park.
Nearly $2.2 million in Bellingham’s Greenways levy funds will be used to purchase the property from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. It’s considered the largest single-property purchase in Greenways history, with the exception of the Galbraith Mountain easement in 2018.
Once complete, the park will feature a segment of the future Bay to Baker Trail and a portion of Squalicum Creek.
“This historic acquisition is the culmination of decades of work by the City and our Greenways Advisory Committee,” Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver said. “Thanks to the community members who voted for this levy and believed in its purpose, generations to come will be able to enjoy a more expansive system of trails, parks, and green spaces, which has become a hallmark of Bellingham.”
Oliver adds that the city has been in talks to acquire the land since 2009.
The city’s Greenways Program began in 1990, and the city has purchased more than 3200 acres with levy funds.
