Boulevard Park on Bellingham Bay will need shoreline improvements, which could include replacing 40 feet of grass with gravel and sand and relocating the walking trail.
Construction would start in September 2011 or September 2012 depending on obtainment of permits and feedback from the community, as discussed in a community meeting on Jan. 26.
Improvements are necessary because of ongoing erosion and storm surges damaging the shoreline and general wear down.
These improvements include removing concrete rubble and other hazards and lining the shore with gravel and sand.
Improvements will eliminate beach erosion, increase public access and improve the habitat, according to Gina Austin, project manager and Parks and Recreation employee for the City of Bellingham.
Austin gave some explanation on how the improvements would increase public access. “Right now we have the lawn area and the trail and there is limited access to the actual water. By removing the concrete rubble, we would be making it easier for people to walk right down to the water’s edge,” Austin said. “It’s pretty difficult for children or other folks to navigate down to the water. By removing that material and having small gravel and sand, it would be much easier to walk to the water.”
Although improvements are necessary, community members have concerns about the potential changes to the park.
Ray Ballweg, South Hill Neighborhood Association president, is concerned about the removal of the grassy area. “The main concern I have is that if they put beaches there, they’ll have to push the walkway back into the grassy area,” he said. “That’s where I see most of the college-aged kids.” Ballweg was also concerned about issues that would arise during the actual construction. He explained that there would be much less parking during and after construction.
There would be less parking during construction because of the trucks shuttling supplies in and out of the park. There could be less parking after construction if the shoreline is pushed back, which could push back the entire park into the parking lot.
Other concerns include how well the improvements would control erosion, how the construction would be phased and how high the tides would rise and how much material would be removed.
“West beach has priority for improvements,” said Austin. Making repairs to the 230-foot west beach first would be most efficient for the project’s budget, according to Austin. The project currently has $200,000 leftover from Greenway levy funds approved in June 2008. Austin said they might also search for other funding under park impact fees.
Three-hundred-foot Marine Park had similar repairs completed. The heavy earthwork done on Marine Park took about two months and in all cost about $300,000, according to Austin.
Jim Johannessen, president of Coastal Geologic Services and specialist in beach and estuarine assessment, mapping and restoration design is working closely on the project.
Johannessen used Marine Park and other public parks in King County as examples of how similar repairs can work. “There is a proven track record of these types of designs,” he said about extracting debris and replacing with gravel.
Austin said the next steps are to take into consideration what the community members have said and create a new design to present in the near future. After a design is decided on, funds will be collected, permits will be obtained and construction will start on Boulevard Park.
Construction would start in September 2011 or September 2012 depending on obtainment of permits and feedback from the community, as discussed in a community meeting on Jan. 26.
Improvements are necessary because of ongoing erosion and storm surges damaging the shoreline and general wear down.
These improvements include removing concrete rubble and other hazards and lining the shore with gravel and sand.
Improvements will eliminate beach erosion, increase public access and improve the habitat, according to Gina Austin, project manager and Parks and Recreation employee for the City of Bellingham.
Austin gave some explanation on how the improvements would increase public access. “Right now we have the lawn area and the trail and there is limited access to the actual water. By removing the concrete rubble, we would be making it easier for people to walk right down to the water’s edge,” Austin said. “It’s pretty difficult for children or other folks to navigate down to the water. By removing that material and having small gravel and sand, it would be much easier to walk to the water.”
Although improvements are necessary, community members have concerns about the potential changes to the park.
Ray Ballweg, South Hill Neighborhood Association president, is concerned about the removal of the grassy area. “The main concern I have is that if they put beaches there, they’ll have to push the walkway back into the grassy area,” he said. “That’s where I see most of the college-aged kids.” Ballweg was also concerned about issues that would arise during the actual construction. He explained that there would be much less parking during and after construction.
There would be less parking during construction because of the trucks shuttling supplies in and out of the park. There could be less parking after construction if the shoreline is pushed back, which could push back the entire park into the parking lot.
Other concerns include how well the improvements would control erosion, how the construction would be phased and how high the tides would rise and how much material would be removed.
“West beach has priority for improvements,” said Austin. Making repairs to the 230-foot west beach first would be most efficient for the project’s budget, according to Austin. The project currently has $200,000 leftover from Greenway levy funds approved in June 2008. Austin said they might also search for other funding under park impact fees.
Three-hundred-foot Marine Park had similar repairs completed. The heavy earthwork done on Marine Park took about two months and in all cost about $300,000, according to Austin.
Jim Johannessen, president of Coastal Geologic Services and specialist in beach and estuarine assessment, mapping and restoration design is working closely on the project.
Johannessen used Marine Park and other public parks in King County as examples of how similar repairs can work. “There is a proven track record of these types of designs,” he said about extracting debris and replacing with gravel.
Austin said the next steps are to take into consideration what the community members have said and create a new design to present in the near future. After a design is decided on, funds will be collected, permits will be obtained and construction will start on Boulevard Park.
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