The Parks and Recreation Department has recently begun designing two future improvements to be made to Bloedel Donovan Park in 2014, according to city data.

The changes that are being designed include shoreline, storm water, and boathouse improvements, according to city data.

These changes are both amendments that were made to the Park Renovation Plan that began in 1980; the updated version is called the Bloedel Master Plan Amendment, according to city data.

The Bloedel Master Plan Amendment was approved by City Council on July 2, 2012 and has recently received funding for two of about seven future improvements, according to city data.

“I am generally in-favor of the proposed updates to the park,” Jeff Braimes, a resident of Alabama Hill, said.

One of the two projects that were recently funded is the storm water infiltration improvement project, according to city data.

The storm water infiltration improvements are meant to alleviate the water’s run-off from the open lawn area while also making sure the public can access the shoreline, according to city data.

In order to make these storm water improvements possible, below ground improvements may have to be made, according to city data.

Construction may go as far as removing the sand that has voids in them in order to treat and infiltrate storm water through sand barriers, according to city data.

In addition to the storm water infiltration, there is also an issue with the shoreline, according to city data.

The issue with the shoreline is the concrete bulkhead that is breaking apart and crumbling into Lake Whatcom, which contaminates the water source, according to city data.

The plan is to have the sand barrier take away the run-off and prevent bacteria from entering Lake Whatcom, according to city data.

With the sand acting as a barrier, the crumbling concrete can be removed, and the shoreline can be molded to have a more natural shape, according to city data.

With storm water improvements there will be a less run-off water, the grass on the open lawns will be in better condition, and there will be more chances to capture additional storm water run-off from other areas of the park, such as the community building and the walkways, that have yet to be mitigated, according to city data.

As of October 10, 2013, the City of Bellingham Water Fund has granted storm water improvements $384,000 while the Department of Ecology Statewide Stormwater Grant Program gave $128,000 to fix the storm water issue.

For shoreline improvements, the City of Bellingham Water Fund has given the project $150,000 and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Aquatic Land Enhancement Account Grant have also given the project $150,000 as of Oct 10, 2013, according to city data.

The design process has only recently begun and construction for this part of the amendment plan is expected to take place during the summer of 2014, according to city data.

The second project to recently receive funding was the new boathouse that is to be installed on Electric Avenue, according to city data.

The idea for a new boathouse was brought to City Council by the Whatcom Rowing Association, according to city data.

The Association has been leasing space at the park since 2011, and has been hosting a rowing program for youths and adults since then, according to city data.

The proposed boathouse is for storage of non-motorized boating equipment, and is planned to be privately funded through a donation made by the Whatcom Rowing Association, according to city data.

The boathouse is to be located on the west end of the park near Electric Avenue, according to city data.

While this boathouse might be in the favor of the Whatcom Rowing Association, not everyone is in favor of having a new boathouse installed at the park, according to Mollie Faulkner.

“Putting a boathouse on the grass just does not make sense. It will drastically cut down swimming and picnic areas and leave a large area where there can be no vegetation,” Faulkner said.

The boathouse was initially taken out of the 2012 master plan, but was put back into the amendment plan in order to avoid conflict with pedestrian access to non-motorized boating equipment, according to city data.

The boathouse only recently received funding and is currently in the design process. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2014, according to city data.

The Bloedel Master Plan Amendment came about due to the City Council’s concern for Lake Whatcom, according to Leslie Bryson, Design and Development Manager of the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department.

Lake Whatcom is a major supply of drinking water in Bellingham, so the lake is one if the City’s highest priorities, Bryson said.

“Council requested staff look at ways to reduce runoff into Lake Whatcom. A work plan for Bloedel Donovan Park was presented to Council in 2011, resulting in Public Works and Parks collaborating on storm water infiltration and beach restoration projects. Around the same time, the Whatcom Rowing Association brought forward a proposal to construct a non-motorized boathouse,” Bryson said.

Since both of these projects were brought to the attention of City Council, the council decided to amend the park plan for Bloedel Donovan Park, according to Bryson.

Currently, Bloedel Donovan Park is a recreational area that is very well used by visitors who enjoy fishing, letting their dogs off of their leashes, and boating, according to city data.

The park currently has two sand volleyball court, a community building, a park building, a pavilion rental building, open lawn, public restrooms, paths, parking lot, and docks, according to city data.

Future improvements in the Bloedel Master Plan Amendment to be made to the park are non-motorized boathouse, enhanced planting, beach enhancement, native planting mitigation, and a loop trail that was proposed in the original plan in 1980.

The amendments are meant to address an outline of immediate and long-range facility and site-improvements, according to city data.

Alabama Hill Neighborhood News

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Bloedel Donovan Park Master Plan and Improvement Projects

The Parks and Recreation Department has recently begun designing two future improvements to be made to Bloedel Donovan Park in 2014, according to city data.

The changes that are being designed include shoreline, storm water, and boathouse improvements, according to city data.

These changes are both amendments that were made to the Park Renovation Plan that began in 1980; the updated version is called the Bloedel Master Plan Amendment, according to city data.

The Bloedel Master Plan Amendment was approved by City Council on July 2, 2012 and has recently received funding for two of about seven future improvements, according to city data.

“I am generally in-favor of the proposed updates to the park,” Jeff Braimes, a resident of Alabama Hill, said.

One of the two projects that were recently funded is the storm water infiltration improvement project, according to city data.

The storm water infiltration improvements are meant to alleviate the water’s run-off from the open lawn area while also making sure the public can access the shoreline, according to city data.

In order to make these storm water improvements possible, below ground improvements may have to be made, according to city data.

Construction may go as far as removing the sand that has voids in them in order to treat and infiltrate storm water through sand barriers, according to city data.

In addition to the storm water infiltration, there is also an issue with the shoreline, according to city data.

The issue with the shoreline is the concrete bulkhead that is breaking apart and crumbling into Lake Whatcom, which contaminates the water source, according to city data.

The plan is to have the sand barrier take away the run-off and prevent bacteria from entering Lake Whatcom, according to city data.

With the sand acting as a barrier, the crumbling concrete can be removed, and the shoreline can be molded to have a more natural shape, according to city data.

As of October 10, 2013, the City of Bellingham Water Fund has granted storm water improvements $384,000 while the Department of Ecology Statewide Stormwater Grant Program gave $128,000 to fix the storm water issue.

For shoreline improvements, the City of Bellingham Water Fund has given the project $150,000 and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Aquatic Land Enhancement Account Grant have also given the project $150,000 as of Oct 10, 2013, according to city data.

The design process has only recently begun and construction for this part of the amendment plan is expected to take place during the summer of 2014, according to city data.

The second project to recently receive funding was the new boathouse that is to be installed on Electric Avenue, according to city data.

The idea for a new boathouse was brought to City Council by the Whatcom Rowing Association, according to city data.

The Association has been leasing space at the park since 2011, and has been hosting a rowing program for youths and adults since then, according to city data.

The proposed boathouse is for storage of non-motorized boating equipment, and is planned to be privately funded through a donation made by the Whatcom Rowing Association, according to city data.

The boathouse is to be located on the west end of the park near Electric Avenue, according to city data.

While this boathouse might be in the favor of the Whatcom Rowing Association, not everyone is in favor of having a new boathouse installed at the park, according to Mollie Faulkner.

“Putting a boathouse on the grass just does not make sense. It will drastically cut down swimming and picnic areas and leave a large area where there can be no vegetation,” Faulkner said.

The boathouse was initially taken out of the 2012 master plan, but was put back into the amendment plan in order to avoid conflict with pedestrian access to non-motorized boating equipment, according to city data.

The boathouse only recently received funding and is currently in the design process. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2014, according to city data.

The Bloedel Master Plan Amendment came about due to the City Council’s concern for Lake Whatcom, according to Leslie Bryson, Design and Development Manager of the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department.

Lake Whatcom is a major supply of drinking water in Bellingham, so the lake is one if the City’s highest priorities, Bryson said.

Since both of these projects were brought to the attention of City Council, the council decided to amend the park plan for Bloedel Donovan Park, according to Bryson.

Currently, Bloedel Donovan Park is a recreational area that is very well used by visitors who enjoy fishing, letting their dogs off of their leashes, and boating, according to city data.

The park currently has two sand volleyball court, a community building, a park building, a pavilion rental building, open lawn, public restrooms, paths, parking lot, and docks, according to city data.

Future improvements in the Bloedel Master Plan Amendment to be made to the park are non-motorized boathouse, enhanced planting, beach enhancement, native planting mitigation, and a loop trail that was proposed in the original plan in 1980.

The amendments are meant to address an outline of immediate and long-range facility and site-improvements, according to city data.