City Council - Parks and Recreation Committee
City Council - Parks and Recreation Committee
Mon, August 24, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council Parks and Recreation Committee — August 24, 2026
This was a Parks and Recreation Committee meeting chaired by Council Member Skip Williams, with Council Members Dan Hammill and Jace Cotton also participating. Council President Hannah Stone and Council Member Michael Lilliquist attended as non-committee members. The session focused entirely on a new 26-acre park in an underserved area of northeast Bellingham.
Agenda Item 1: Naming of the Park on East Bakerview Road (AB 25025)
Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver and Planning and Development Coordinator Peter Gil presented the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's recommendation to officially name the new park located on the 900 block of East Bakerview Road — between Demer Road and James Street — Bakerview Meadows Park.
Staff explained that they solicited public input through an Engage Bellingham poll, receiving over 200 responses and roughly 100 distinct name suggestions. Popular themes included combining "Bakerview" and "Telegraph" (yielding suggestions like "Bakegraph" and "Tel View"), as well as names referencing the meadow character of the land. The advisory board ultimately chose "Bakerview Meadows" as a place-based name reflecting the view of Mount Baker, the open meadow landscape (approximately 9 acres of pastured meadow alongside about 20 acres of forest), and the recognizable Bakerview Road address.
The runner-up name, Telegraph Trail Park, was noted for its historical significance — the old telegraph trail from Bellingham to Sumas ran directly through the property, with remnants still visible. Staff indicated that interpretive signage acknowledging both this historic route and its role as an indigenous travel corridor from the bay to the Nooksack/Everson area will be incorporated into park design.
Council Member Cotton raised the question of whether indigenous place names should be considered. Oliver responded that this is a nuanced area — in her understanding, tribal representatives generally do not want to provide names on the city's behalf — but confirmed that interpretive signage honoring the indigenous history of the corridor is planned.
Vote: Hammill moved, Cotton seconded (implicitly, by voicing support). All committee members in favor; none opposed. Motion carried unanimously.
Agenda Item 2: Bakerview Meadows Park Master Plan (AB 25026)
Oliver, Gil, and consultant Leslie Batton of Field Collab presented the completed master plan for Bakerview Meadows Park — the product of roughly two years of planning and community engagement.
Background: The 26-acre parcel was purchased in 2020 for $2.3 million in Greenways funds to address a significant park gap between the Meridian and King Mountain neighborhoods in northeast Bellingham. At the time of purchase, the council directed staff to also study the feasibility of incorporating low-income housing. A 2024 feasibility report determined that approximately 3.5 acres along the Bakerview Road frontage could support 70–80 units of low-income housing — the general break-even threshold for such projects. A land division is now underway to create a separate housing parcel. Because developing that northern frontage requires expensive infrastructure (including daylighting a buried creek and installing a fish-passable culvert — estimated at $4–5 million), parks planning is focused on the southern portion of the site in the near term.
Community Engagement: Batton reported nearly 700 participants across town halls, online surveys, tabling at community events, and the city's PROS (Parks, Recreation and Open Space) planning process. The strongest and most universal theme: preserve and celebrate the site's natural character. Trails were the single most-requested feature, crossing all demographic groups. Additional feedback shaped details such as separate playground areas for toddlers (ages 2–5) and older kids (5–12), shaded play areas, adult exercise equipment, and a flexible multi-use sport court to accommodate basketball, tennis, pickleball, and other uses.
Master Plan Highlights:
The plan organizes the park around three zones. The northern entry off Woodbury Way will feature a community garden, native plantings, and a potential orchard, transitioning to a restored riparian buffer along Kamock Creek. The central zone includes a picnic shelter, restrooms, playgrounds, adult fitness equipment, a multi-use sport court, and a climbing area. The southern zone provides open lawn flex space, with hammock and slack-line posts (in lieu of mature trees). The park contains three creeks — Landing Creek (currently buried), Kamock Creek, and Baker Creek — and the plan calls for daylighting Landing Creek and restoring riparian buffers throughout. Approximately 1.5 miles of trails are planned in multiple formats: shared-use paved trails, softer nature trails, and smaller forest footpaths. Interpretive signage will highlight both the historic telegraph route and indigenous travel corridors.
Phasing and Costs:
Phase 0 (now underway, ~$75,000): Mowing trails, urban forestry work, signage, birdhouses, and basic public activation. The site has partial public access currently via an easement through Werrow Garden's parking area and street parking on Woodbury Way. Staff plans a social media push and formal opening once the master plan is approved.
Phase 1 (~$6 million, budgeted for 2028–29): Permanent trails, infrastructure (utilities, parking, road extension), community garden, fenced off-leash dog area, and creek restoration work.
Phase 2 (~$7 million, targeted 2030+): Remaining active amenities (playgrounds, sport courts, climbing area), with flexibility to adjust based on how the neighborhood develops and what amenities the community prioritizes.
Housing development is further out and not yet scheduled.
Council Member Lilliquist (not a committee member but present) asked about disc golf, which appeared in multiple phases of the plan. Staff clarified that disc golf is envisioned in the open northern meadow area during early phases, and while it is penciled into the forested area in later phases, that remains flexible depending on community demand and whether the housing development ultimately displaces the northern disc golf layout.
Council Member Stone asked whether the site is formally open to the public now. Staff confirmed it effectively is, with mowed trails and forestry work already done, and that a formal public announcement with signage and dog waste stations is planned shortly after master plan approval.
Council Members Hammill and Cotton both expressed strong enthusiasm, with Hammill specifically noting that north Bellingham has long lacked the park amenities available in the southern and central parts of the city.
Vote: Hammill moved, Cotton seconded. All committee members in favor; none opposed. Motion carried unanimously. Both items will be reported at the full council meeting the same evening.
Key Takeaways
The park is officially named Bakerview Meadows Park, chosen through a public poll for its sense of place, reflecting the meadow landscape and Mount Baker views.
The master plan for a 26-acre neighborhood park is approved, addressing what staff described as the largest park gap in the city — a large swath of northeast Bellingham with no walkable park.
The site is already partially accessible to the public with mowed trails and ongoing maintenance; a formal public launch is planned imminently following master plan approval.
Full build-out will cost approximately $13+ million and take 10–15 years, with Phase 1 construction budgeted for 2028–29 and Phase 2 targeted for 2030 and beyond.
Approximately 3.5 acres along Bakerview Road are being reserved for 70–80 units of low-income housing, with a land division underway to separate that parcel from the park land.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
What happened at this meeting
Naming of the park on East Bakerview Road
Staff presented the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's recommendation to name the new park on East Bakerview Road as Bakerview Meadows Park. Peter Gil, planning and development coordinator, explained that over 200 public responses were received through an Engage Bellingham poll with about 100 naming suggestions, including alternatives like Bakergraph, Tel View, and Telegraph Trail Park. The name Bakerview Meadows was chosen because it is place-based, reflects the view of Mount Baker and the park's open meadow space (approximately 9 acres of meadow and 20 acres of forest), and is locally identifiable. Council Member Cotton raised a thoughtful question about incorporating indigenous place names, and staff responded that interpretive signage would acknowledge the indigenous route through the park, but that tribes prefer not to have names assigned on their behalf. Council Member Hamill moved to approve the name, and Council Member Cotton expressed support after the discussion, noting the administration's thoughtful approach. The motion passed unanimously.
Consideration of the Bakerview Meadows Park master plan
# Bakerview Meadows Park Master Plan Summary
The Bakerview Meadows Park master plan, developed through two years of community engagement involving nearly 700 participants, outlines phased development of a 26-acre park purchased in 2020 with $2.3 million in Greenways funds to serve an underserved area of town. The plan incorporates community priorities including approximately 1.5 miles of trails, natural habitat preservation, creek restoration (including Landing Creek daylighting and fish-passable culverts), and recreational amenities such as separate age-specific playgrounds, multi-use sports courts, community gardens, and picnic shelters, along with approximately 3.5 acres designated for 70-80 low-income housing units. Phased implementation begins with Phase 0 activation in 2026 ($75,000) featuring mowed trails and parking access via a Werow Garden easement, followed by Phase 1 (2028-29, $6 million) for infrastructure and trail development, and Phase 2 and beyond ($7 million) for additional amenities such as playgrounds and exercise equipment based on community feedback and site maturation. Nicole Oliver noted that the phased approach allows the city to manage budgetary constraints and staffing capacity concerns. Council Member Hamill praised the plan's flexibility and multi-use design, and the council voted unanimously to approve the master plan.
The Bakerview Meadows Park master plan, developed through two years of community engagement involving nearly 700 participants, outlines phased development of a 26-acre park purchased in 2020 with $2.3 million in Greenways funds to serve an underserved area of town. The plan incorporates community priorities including approximately 1.5 miles of trails, natural habitat preservation, creek restoration (including Landing Creek daylighting and fish-passable culverts), and recreational amenities such as separate age-specific playgrounds, multi-use sports courts, community gardens, and picnic shelters, along with approximately 3.5 acres designated for 70-80 low-income housing units. Phased implementation begins with Phase 0 activation in 2026 ($75,000) featuring mowed trails and parking access via a Werow Garden easement, followed by Phase 1 (2028-29, $6 million) for infrastructure and trail development, and Phase 2 and beyond ($7 million) for additional amenities such as playgrounds and exercise equipment based on community feedback and site maturation. Nicole Oliver noted that the phased approach allows the city to manage budgetary constraints and staffing capacity concerns. Council Member Hamill praised the plan's flexibility and multi-use design, and the council voted unanimously to approve the master plan.
Agenda items (2)
Procedural (2)
25025ProceduralNaming of the park on East Bakerview Road
The city will decide on an official name for a new park located on East Bakerview Road.
What happened
Staff presented the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board's recommendation to name the new park on East Bakerview Road as Bakerview Meadows Park. Peter Gil, planning and development coordinator, explained that over 200 public responses were received through an Engage Bellingham poll with about 100 naming suggestions, including alternatives like Bakergraph, Tel View, and Telegraph Trail Park. The name Bakerview Meadows was chosen because it is place-based, reflects the view of Mount Baker and the park's open meadow space (approximately 9 acres of meadow and 20 acres of forest), and is locally identifiable. Council Member Cotton raised a thoughtful question about incorporating indigenous place names, and staff responded that interpretive signage would acknowledge the indigenous route through the park, but that tribes prefer not to have names assigned on their behalf. Council Member Hamill moved to approve the name, and Council Member Cotton expressed support after the discussion, noting the administration's thoughtful approach. The motion passed unanimously.25026ProceduralConsideration of the Bakerview Meadows Park master plan
City officials will review and consider approving a master plan that outlines the design, features, and development strategy for Bakerview Meadows Park.
What happened
# Bakerview Meadows Park Master Plan SummaryThe Bakerview Meadows Park master plan, developed through two years of community engagement involving nearly 700 participants, outlines phased development of a 26-acre park purchased in 2020 with $2.3 million in Greenways funds to serve an underserved area of town. The plan incorporates community priorities including approximately 1.5 miles of trails, natural habitat preservation, creek restoration (including Landing Creek daylighting and fish-passable culverts), and recreational amenities such as separate age-specific playgrounds, multi-use sports courts, community gardens, and picnic shelters, along with approximately 3.5 acres designated for 70-80 low-income housing units. Phased implementation begins with Phase 0 activation in 2026 ($75,000) featuring mowed trails and parking access via a Werow Garden easement, followed by Phase 1 (2028-29, $6 million) for infrastructure and trail development, and Phase 2 and beyond ($7 million) for additional amenities such as playgrounds and exercise equipment based on community feedback and site maturation. Nicole Oliver noted that the phased approach allows the city to manage budgetary constraints and staffing capacity concerns. Council Member Hamill praised the plan's flexibility and multi-use design, and the council voted unanimously to approve the master plan.
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Approve naming of park as Baker View Meadows Park
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve Baker View Meadows Park Master Plan
aye 1
voice voteaye
Verbatim transcript available
114 transcript segments indexed
City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Committee minutes August 24, 2026, 2:00 PM Chair: Edwin H. "Skip" Williams Phone: 360-778-8200 Members: Daniel Hammill, Jace Cotton Email: ccmail@cob.org Web: cob.org/council City Council committee meetings Standing committee members receive reports and information, ask questions, and vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the regular meeting.
Okay, welcome back. So, our next committee, as I mentioned, is Parks and Recreation. That committee is chaired by Council Member Williams. So, I will turn it over to him at this time. >> Okay, thank you very much, President Stone.
There is no public comment period during committee sessions. Call to order and roll call Council President Stone called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. Present: Committee Chair Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Committee Member Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Committee Member Jace Cotton, At-Large 25025 1.
Uh, we have two items on our agenda today. The first one being um agenda bill 255025 which is um the naming of the park on East Baker View Road. And uh today we are joined by Council Member Hamill and Council Member [laughter] Cotton.
Council member Wullet, no cotton. So, um, in in accordance with city policy P 010001, the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. is recommending that the city council adopt an official name for the new park located on the 900 block of East Baker View Road between Demer Road and James Street as Baker View Meadows Park.
Naming of the park on East Bakerview Road Summary: Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, and Peter Gill, Park Planning and Development Coordinator, presented naming options for a park located on East Bakerview Road.
Council Members discussed the park and asked questions. Action: Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the name Bakerview Meadows Park. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. 25026 2. Consideration of the Bakerview Meadows Park master plan Summary: Nicole Oliver, Parks and Recreation Director, Peter Gill, Park Planning and Development Coordinator, and Leslie Batten, Landscape Architect at Field Colab, LLC, presented the Bakerview Meadows Park master plan.
At the June Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, parks and recreation staff shared results of the public naming poll for East Baker View Park. Their recommendations to the city council is to name it Baker View Meadows as was uh previously stated and at this meeting the they are they are requesting approval of the name.
Council Members discussed the park master plan, and asked questions. Page 1 of 2 Action: Daniel Hammill moved to recommend approval of the Bakerview Meadows master plan. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:39 p.m.
So at this point I would like to turn it over to Nicole Oliver, parks and recreation director who will introduce >> Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Williams. Nicole Oliver, parks and recreation director.
Um, we we kind of went back and forth on which agenda bill item to put first. Do you name it first or you do you do the plan first? But we decided to go with the name because the name is what's on the plan.
So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Peter Gil who was the project manager on this master planning effort. Um, he's our planning and uh development coordinator for parks. >> Sure. Good afternoon.
Peter Gil, planning and development coordinator. So, uh, parks and wreck advisory board, um, was the main advisory board for, uh, looking at this park in the master plan and for the name. In June, they suggested the name of Baker View Meadows Park.
Um, naming things, we typically, um, go out to the public and get feedback. Um, in this case, we had a poll on Engage Bellingham and we got over 200 responses in terms of what to name it. Um, we got a a whole slew of of uh suggestions, about a hundred different suggestions, a lot of lot of suggestions about um combining Baker View Road and Telegraph Road because this park um basically is the bridge between those two roads.
So Baker graph and Tel View were were um were popular. Um we also heard lots about Meadows as you see on the on the slide here. Um it is a beautiful open land uh mixed habitat area. It's got about 20 acres of forest land and about uh 9 acres of open um meadow pasture area that's been um bed mowed and pastured for probably the last 60 years.
Um and with that a number of uh beautiful different grasses and flowers are present. Um so with that in mind um the the advisory board suggested Baker View Meadows um as the name for that park. Um second to that was Telegraph Trail uh park um a important part of history.
Um the telegraph trail from here to Sumass went right through this uh park property and you still see remnants of the old uh roaded um that went through the the forested section of this property. So Telegraph Trail was uh was a popular option as well.
But um Baker View Meadows, it is a very placebased name. Um it it reflects the view of Mount Baker uh the open space um in portion of this park and it is uh locally identifiable because um we all know where Baker View Road is, right?
So that is the story >> on the name. >> Thank you very much. Um, is there any discussion the committee members? Uh, council member Hamill. >> Yeah, I support the the PRB's um recommendation and would move to approve um this park as Baker [clears throat] View Meadows Park.
>> Any further discussion? Council member Cotton. >> Sure. just um this is I think the coolest part of being a council member is uh getting to name parks and so uh thank you for all the work to bring this forward.
Um as usual there we had some like um comments about wanting to use indigenous place names and um maybe just in general it would be you know that kind of outreach I think is more appropriate from the administration than from council.
Um but uh yeah, how do we think through that and when that is a kind of an appropriate um strategy, naming strategy? >> Yes, that is that is very common and this this [clears throat] particular park has a lot of potential and in the design in the um we do anticipate doing some interpretive signage to acknowledge the fact that this is a route um an indigenous route that went from the bay all the way out to NooKack Everson.
Um I think that in this particular case um it because it is such an important um neighborhood park it's serving there is no park in this area. We didn't have a clear place name. Um we it's um naming is something in my understanding from tribes is um it's not something they want to do on our behalf.
So it's a it's an interesting thing. the words are mean a lot and um so so that's really what I would have to say about that. [laughter] >> Thank you. Yeah, I know it's a complicated question. So I appreciate that that thoughtful answer and the thoughtful approach to naming this park.
So I'll support the the motion. >> Okay. Any discussion from other council members? >> Okay. Seeing none, the staff in the committee recommendation is to approve the naming of this park as Baker View Meadows Park.
And I'll entertain a motion to do so. >> Already moved. >> Oh, Dan's already moved it. Sorry. Okay. Uh, all in favor of the motion, please say I. >> I. >> All opposed. Motion has passed and I will report that this evening at the regular council meeting.
The second item on our agenda also has to do with Baker View Meadows Park and the and the Baker View Meadows master plan. Baker View Meadows Park, as has been previously said, is located between Telegraph and Baker View east of Demer Road.
It was originally purchased in 2020 for a neighborhood park in an in an expanding and underserved part of the city. The master plan is a culmination of two years of work with local residents and the community to design and phase the 26 acre space for use as a park while holding a portion along Baker View for future lowincome housing.
Full implementation of the master plan will take about 10 to 15 years and will be phased in as funding is available. The current estimate is 75,000 for phase 0. Is that uh correct? Okay. And 6 million for phase 1 and 7 million for phase 2 and beyond.
The staff and consultants on the project will provide an overview of the planning effort and phased approach. So once again, on that note, I will turn it back over to Nicole Oliver. >> Thank you, Council Member Williams.
Um I just wanted to remind everyone of where we came from with this park. We bought it in 2020 with um 2.3 million of Greenways funds to serve a very underserved part of town. Um we purchased it at the time after there were several failed um attempts to develop the parcel.
it does have a lot of uh potential development capacity. So, council at that time instructed parks to study the feasibility of whether we could um create a housing opportunity for low-income housing as well as um do the park.
So, in 2024, the report's available online. We we published a report on that feasibility and um determined working with um planning and community development. Uh we determined that it has a a solid potential on about three and a half acres for 70 to 80 units of low-income housing.
So now what we're doing is um doing a land division to create that separated parcel. And we're focusing on the south side. the the parcel requires an extensive amount of infrastructure to develop the Baker view frontage, including daylighting a creek and creating a fish passible culvert.
So, what we're doing is splitting the land, um setting that aside, but keeping it available for the public and then working on the southern half of of in slow phases so we don't need that four to5 million in infrastructure improvements right out right out of the bat, right out of the gate.
Oh, I mixed my metaphor. So, um that I just wanted to give you that little um uh reminder. We are meeting um next week on site with the King Mountain Neighborhood Association who are really excited about uh activating this site and working on some phasing and you and that's why you'll see multiple phases in this plan.
Um, it's a way to try and we're trying to deliver it as soon as we can to the community given our our budgetary constraints and the fact that it will take additional staff to maintain this park, which is something that um we don't have the ability to add.
So, with that, I'm going to turn it over to Peter and Leslie Batton, our amazing consultant. >> Yes. Thank you, Nicole. Um, yes, I'd like to thank Leslie Batton. She's with Field Collab and we has led the charge to put together one of the most comprehensive uh master plans for any park that I've seen in a very long time.
So, um very grateful to have her help us out through this. Um the park when [snorts] it comes up >> okay um is planned to be 26 acres. um and it is anticipated to incorporate housing as well as a park in it.
And we've worked closely with um planning and community development to get the um [snorts] to get the housing parcel um set up to uh accommodate from 70 to 80 uh units which is kind of the break even point for most of the uh housing projects that we're part of.
Um so on the screen there you'll see solegraph road is on the bottom right. Well, [snorts] Telegraph Road is on the top left of the image there and Baker View Drive is on the bottom right. Um that large [snorts] kind of developed area is the nursery.
It's called My Garden Nursery. And so this um this parcel butts up to um the My Garden Nursery on the east side and on the west side is a residential single family neighborhood. Um the main access is intended to be taken off a Woodbury way and Leslie will talk more about that more about the site itself.
Um the site has three different creeks on it. So the uh potential for environmental lift is is significant. One of those creeks, Landing Creek, is buried currently through the field. Um so part of the plan is to daylight that creek.
Um that creek um intersects with Kamock Creek which runs through the central part and is the main kind of dividing line between the planned housing and the park to the south. Um and that matches up with Baker View Baker Creek, not Baker View, Baker Creek on Telegraph Road, um which will be part of the south exit or entrance to the park.
Um it uh it's a beautiful mixed habitat with the the meadows that we've talked about and the forested land on the east side as you can see. Um has wetlands as well as upland space um for the for the park.
Um like Nicole said, this has long been a big priority in the uh pros plan. As you see on the left hand side up there, the small map, the blue dot is where um this park lands, right in between uh Meridian neighborhood and the King Mountain neighborhood.
This is right on the border, so it'll serve both of those neighborhoods and it is the largest gap we have in town for lack of parks. So, we're excited about the potential here. [snorts] uh greenway strategic plan also identifies this as a key hub trail corridor that connects the south part of the south part of town to the north part of town with a series of trails as well.
Um and we've been talking to the community for at least two years about this and we've done a number of outreach um that Leslie will talk more about now. Thanks. >> All right. Well, thank you. I'm Lesley Batton with Field Collab and I this has been a really wonderful project.
So I'm really happy to to showcase it here today with you. So as Peter mentioned, we started a formal process of public engagement last summer and that started with the visioning or discovery phase where we just went out to the community blank slate sponges just asking them to tell us what they wanted to see in this new park.
And from there they gave us a lot of really great information and we started to shape that into how those spaces or those requests, those activities can be placed in the limited area that is for active use versus the passive use and what the best combination of those activities were.
And then we went back and showcased the preferred option and that eventually came into the master plan um early this year which we are showcasing to you today for approval. So there's been lots of really great feedback um almost 700 participants and throughout various stages of town halls, online surveys, tableabling at outreach events, even through the pros plan we were able to get some feedback on this project.
So a lot of participation, a lot of data, which is really wonderful that really helped us shape, okay, what activities does the does the community want to see? Very widespread between passive to active um and a lot of nuance detail, too.
So, we got feedback like we want to make sure that if you have features here that the whole family can participate or if you have a playground, we want to make sure there's shade there. So, there's these these little conditions that you don't necessarily get just by putting a dot on a picture, but you get a little more detail, a little more color, and a little bit more shape that helps create a master plan that really res resonates with the community.
Overall, the strongest feedback we got is everybody loved the natural state and they wanted that ongoing connection to nature, especially as the neighborhood develops and grows and we start to lose a little bit more of the open space.
This was a place they wanted to have pres not preserved but conserved to be able to go and reconnect and see nature and participate in it with trails being the best feature that crossed across everybody's request.
Everybody wants trails. And then there were additional beyond that were additional active recreational pieces and passive recreational pieces as well. And so taking all that data, we came up with this master plan.
It's really hard to look at on a screen. You kind of need time to look at it, but in a nutshell, and we'll walk through these spaces. We have a lot of really beautiful habitat and natural areas. So most of the north and the east are that natural areas, the forested area.
We have the wetlands and the streams kind of coming in and buffering. And then just south of Kamock Creek, that is where we have really great space to put active recreation where the impact is not going to affect the wetlands or the streams and is already mostly flat.
So the effort to put in the recreation won't be as extreme as if it were another another area. So, as we walk through, we'll start up here with Woodberry as our introduction into the site and then we'll work down to the central area and then into kind of this the southern portion and then talk about trails and and um the natural areas.
So, with Woodberry Way, we are going to extend the entry in for car and vehicular access. And we thought we might as well take advantage of the proximity to the neighborhood and the future housing and create a community garden space.
And so this is a great way to blend not only the people that live there, but bring people from a little bit further out into the site. Great way to have intergenerational and inner neighborhood and multic interaction.
There could be educational features. There could be um stewardship committee groups or gardening groups that could come out and help extend educational opportunities. Um also a native garden and potentially an orchard orchard.
And then the it's right on the buffer of where Kam Creek is. So opportunity to then kind of transition into this is a natural restored wildlife area or a native area. This is what a riparian corridor should look like and the restoration over time and being able to showcase that to the community and engage them in that process.
Once you come into the site, this is what we're calling the central zone. And so we're landing at a picnic shelter and community gathering area and restroom. So those are going to be the main priority features that bring you in.
And then backing it are the playgrounds. So having a distinct separate area for the younger kids, two to five year olds was re really strong request from the community of keep them separate. But they're still a little bit related because just across the path is the large the young the older kids from 5 to 12 play feature.
And then sprinkled throughout are opportunities for the parents to participate. Um we've got a we swing opportunity for the parents to actually be swinging on there. And we also have a dedicated area for adult exercise.
So the adults can be doing their workout while the kids are playing, getting their steps in, getting their workout, getting their play on as well. Um, we also have uh the opportunity to have a mixeduse sport court just on the south of that.
And and that's really important because of all the requests we had for basketball, for tennis, for pickle ball, for football, everything. And just with all the different activities, the best way to do that is a combined flexible multi-use sport court um to help get all those different activities.
We also have a climbing area that was really strongly requested from the community. Um so being able to reach all challenge levels, so the youngest youngest and earliest beginners can climb as well as the most advanced more technical climbers can go in there.
And then moving just south of this multiport court. So you kind of see that in this image. And this is actually looking north now back up towards that central area. And we needed a little flex space. So this open lawn space allows people to come and have a pickup game, fly a kite, have a picnic, um take a selfie if you want.
Um we're posting some posts for um slack lines and hammocks to allow because the trees are going to need some time to mature. So they'll um people who want to do that activity will have that opportunity and don't have to wait a long time.
And then you can just see along the edge that this is the nature trail that's going to walk or you can walk or ride um right along Kamik Creek. So be opportunities to sit and kind of look out and see all the restoration efforts that are happening at Kam Creek.
And so trails. So we have we are adding about 1 and a half miles of trails and there are multiple varieties of types. So we'll have the shared use where bikes and pedestrians share the the trail and that's that primary orange line that comes all the way from the north Baker View all the way through the site and around and in the future hopefully connecting to the rest of the trail system.
Um on down to we've got nature trails that are more of that kind of slower passive movement. You're stopping. There's maybe educational features. there's wildlife opportunities. Um and then into kind of more smaller, slower pace maybe um solitary walks in the woods with the smaller trails out into the woods.
Um the this image is really really critical kind of our thinking about how the trail structures are going to be laid out and potentially the interpretive signage. This is kind of an um an old I think GLY map of the um NooKack Trail um and the Telegraph Road Trail.
So, a really great opportunity to showcase that. And then the park being it's amazing, wonderfully rich in ecological diversity, um, we're going to really celebrate that with Landon Creek daylighting.
So bringing it out of the culver underneath the future housing area and daylighting it into a stream with a a creek bed and its buffer areas and joining that with Kamik working on restoration of those the the buffers and along the edges.
And then these two meadows are really unique, really great opportunities to restore some of the wetland meadows that aren't very common and really great edge habitat between that and into the forest. So, we'll be putting a lot of effort into trying to make those um in a restored restored state.
And then all throughout the forest, it's just ongoing efforts to get rid of the invasive species, do brush clearing, kind of help the canopy be a little bit more healthy and sustainable. Um and then ongoing work in the uh North Fork, Baker Creek.
So, phasing, if you haven't been out there already, I highly suggest that you go out. Um this is a photo of some of the trails that have been mowed in there. And this is really the activation phase. We want to get people out into the site, starting to use it, starting to take ownership of it, feel invested in it, and start to really get excited about the future of it.
So, disc golf is one option that we can also be thinking about adding over time for additional ways to invite people out and then potentially a dog leashed leash dog area in the north and then off leash dog area down here in addition to just the trails into the into the woods.
And then as we move forward, phase one gets a little more technical. That's where we really look at the restoration opportunities in a little more in-depth, more detail. Um, and then we also look at the infrastructure.
So bringing that roadway in, bringing the parking, bringing in all the things that is kind of the buried where you bury your money in the ground and it's not really exciting, but is is necessary in order to make the park function, all the utilities, the sewer lines, and the water.
Um, the trails will become permanent. So, they'll go from mode mode to paved where um it's we need to be a little more gentle on the landscape. We'll probably have a softer surfacing to be determined.
Um we'll start to add the community garden, uh the fenced off leash dog park on the south, so we're really starting to stretch out some of the activity through the park so it's not centralized all in one spot, but really trying to spread it out and get to all reaches.
And then phase two, this is this gives the parks department and the community a little time to let the park mature a little bit. the neighborhood matures, it's coming, it's developing, and we can really start to see what amenities really resonates with that community.
So, is the playground adult exercise still a high priority? Is the zipline more important than climbing? We can start to figure out how those pieces come into um the next future budget request and planning session.
Now, I will hand it over to Peter. >> Yeah. So, as far as the phasing goes, in terms of schedule, um this is what we've been asked about most, um we are doing everything we can to uh get the space activated and get people out there on the site and able to enjoy the space as it is.
This builds on all the work that uh public works has done on Telegraph Road, improving that. They're currently working on James Street. This is just another opportunity with all the uh development that's happening out there to get people out there and able to go outside and enjoy the the public space.
So, that is happening now internally with internal resources um to mow those trails and to work on the forested area a bit. Um, we are working, we have some slick signage as well as some awesome birdhouses and habitat ideas that we can do on our own without a big development contract.
Um, but we have added to the budget in 2028 29 the first phase. So, construction of phase 1 in 2028-29 and uh phase 2 in 2030, but Nicole might correct me on that, but and uh the housing development is uh is further off yet um as well.
And so we're going to do our best to take advantage of that full access to the full site um until that time as development is built there. And that is the master plan in a nutshell. >> All right. Thank you very much all of you.
This was a wonderful presentation. Um any discussion from the committee members? Uh uh, Council Member Hamill. >> Um, as was pointed out, this is an underserved area of the community. There was there was sort of a um like a park desert, for lack of a better term in that area.
Uh, even with the advent of Cordata and Juliana Park, they were they were just too they weren't walkable for this particular area that's up and coming right now. So, I'm really pleased to to see this development in in a underserved area.
I like the multi-use nature of the the thoughtfulness that's going into it and then the um the ability to adjust as we get more feedback from the community. What do they want to see over time with amenities within the the park?
Um and then the um the acceleration of park development just in general in Cordata area, roughly speaking, north end of town has just been something that has been on my list for years and years. I've lived here for since 1989, so however many years that is.
and the north part of Bellingham has traditionally not had the amenities that the southern and uh middle section of of Bellingham have had. So, I'm just very excited about this and um I would just move to approve the master development plan.
>> Thank you very much. Council member Cotton, do do you have anything to add? I >> second all of Council Member Haml's comments and um this is so exciting and um yeah, just a tremendous body of work.
So, thank you all. Yeah, just to add um something and then we will move on. I've I've been out there a couple of times and on formal tours and so on. And um I believe that when we first um began the uh planning of this u it I think it was my first year on the council and uh so it's just wonderful to see it being developed as as this is indicating but to see that we got 700 responses from the community is a wonderful thing because this will reflect what those people see.
So, um, so I'm I'm just very happy now that it's moving forward and we're actually going to have a park there. So, any further discussion? Uh, council member Stone. Yeah, I just had a brief question I guess with the phasing just to confirm for the public mentioning that phase zero maintenance and public access being 2026.
So is it formal and that there's officially public access to that space at this time? Great question. Uh we were able to get an easement from the Werow Garden to use because they're using part of the site for their overflow parking.
So, they've given us an easement so that folks could park on the property by using their gate, but that gate will close to cars when the garden is closed. However, the Woodbury side um where that that road is built to extend, you can park, there is on street parking there as well.
And so, our goal is this year that we've already mowed the site. The um our urban forestry crews have been in those woods. are having a great time cleaning and clearing and um and getting things ready.
And then uh and then we're hoping to um with that tour and then we're reaching out to the disc golfers. It's a great way to activate and if we say anything about dogs, they will come. So yes, we're hoping to kind of do a bigger splash once the plan's approved.
We're working on a video and doing some social media, get some rule signs posted and some dogway stations and then it should be it should be open. >> Okay. Anything else? Uh, Council Member Liiloquiz.
>> Thank you. I'm not on this committee and I'll be saying a bunch of positive and praiseworthy things tonight, so you won't be here. Sorry, Miss Bettton. But I do have a small question. I noticed disc golf coming and going.
It's an early cheap activation, but I see it moving around throughout all the phases. Can you give the the community of of disc golfers some idea about how that's going to play out over the phases? >> Sure.
I I think um we are looking for um a way to activate the open areas. Um and so until there is housing on the north end of town that would displace the disc golf um on the north north part of that site north of Kamik Creek.
Um we would we would be keeping the discolf in that section of the of the park. But then I see them appearing in the forest later on. >> Well, we do have we do have that in the plans, but um that is that is yet to be seen and and so much of this depends on what the need and what the requests are and so we've kind of planned for all of it.
>> Pencled in at this point, not not in >> Exactly. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anything else? Seeing no further input, we have a motion on the floor to to to approve the Baker View Meadows master plan. Any further discussion?
Okay. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries and that will be reported at the evening meeting tonight. So, thank you very much. This is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to see this grow.
So, and there being no further business, the committee meeting is adjourned and I will pass it back to you, President Stone. >> Thank you very much, Council Member Williams. Um, so we will take a brief break and be right back for the public health, safety, justice, and equity committee.