As part of the City's effort to improve Maritime Heritage Park, many projects are underway to enhance the public's use of this urban waterfront gem.
The Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with other community groups to activate the park. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership is co-sponsoring a spring and summer kickball league that is bringing hundreds of new visitors to the park. On Wednesday evenings in August, the City is sponsoring Music at Maritime concert series from 6 – 8 p.m. The first show brought approximately 700 visitors! Kulshan Community Land Trust hosts a beer garden, and other free entertainment includes a photo booth, henna station, circus performers and lawn games. Food trucks will be on site as well.
Throughout the summer, Park Stewards are in the park 7 days a week, 10 hours a day. “These Stewards add more 'eyes on the park,' to assist police as they combat unwelcome activities, and make contact with homeless outreach,” explained Leslie Bryson, Bellingham Parks & Recreation Director.
The Stewards give information and education to park users, lead monthly history tours, provide free games from noon to 3 p.m., pick up litter, and monitor park activity.
Also coming soon: a simple, sturdy, flush toilet kiosk, designed after the “Portland Loo,” will be installed on the exterior southeast corner of the park building on Holly Street. In addition, a new outdoor sound system is coming in October, as well as LED lighting on the trails around the park.
For more information on these improvements, please contact Nicole Oliver at Parks and Recreation, or visit the City website at https://www.cob.org/gov/projects.
