The existing playground equipment in both parks is tired and weather-beaten. Both playgrounds were installed in 1999. Rock Hill’s playground lacks ADA access. This project is to replace both playgrounds that will meet current park safety standards and ADA access. Bloedel Donovan Park Playground equipment and installation services have been procured. See further below for project status for both playground projects.
Rock Hill Park Playground is in 100% design phase. Rock Hill Park Playground construction is anticipated to bid and go to construction in 2026.
Funding
Bloedel Donovan Park Playground $515,000 Park Impact Fees
Rock Hill Park Playground $446,000 Park Impact Fees
Design
The playground equipment for Bloedel Donovan Park Playground will be age separated and accessible from the adjacent paved walkway. The equipment features a total of 43 play features, of which 11 elevated features are ramp accessible to wheelchairs, 3 are accessible from transfer station, 25 features are ground based. The features include climbing, sliding, swinging, traversing, and imagination play.
The playground equipment for Rock Hill Park Playground will be accessible via transfer station from the adjacent paved walkway. The equipment features a total of 15 play features, of which 5 are accessible elevated features 9 are ground based. The features include climbing inside the tower, a spiral tube slide, rock climber, overhead arch for traversing, rock steps, swinging, traversing, and imagination play for tots.
Status
Bloedel Donovan Park
- Playground equipment is ordered
- Construction begins August 25, 2025, and ground work will be complete no later than September 30, and all above ground site work be completed first week of October.
- Site work includes construction fencing, erosion control, demolition of the existing playground equipment and fall surfacing, drainage, new playground equipment, concrete ramps, new fall surfacing, and clean up.
- The concrete walkway between the Boat House and the Playground will be unavailable to park users during playground construction during the construction process. See the construction area and construction access in the map below.
- Please keep clear of construction activities and outside the construction fence during this time.
- It is unavoidable that proposed construction is coincident with other park uses. Bellingham Municipal Code 16.80.120 restricts land-disturbing activity October 1 to May 31. We thank you for your patience.
- The new playground has separate equipment for tots and equipment intended for school aged kids. The new playground features slides, climbers, steppers, swings, nooks and access ramps.
- Proposed playground equipment for Bloedel Donovan Park
Rock Hill Park
- Currently in 100% design
- Park and playground construction is planned for Spring and Summer of 2026.
- Proposed playground equipment for Rock Hill Park
Proposed Playground Equipment
Design Consultant Team
Pacific Landscape Architecture and Wilson Engineering
Contractor
To be determined
Public Meetings
Meetings with the York and Silver Beach Neighborhood Associations occurred in 2024 and 2025.
Parks and Recreation staff met with the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association on 8/13/24 at their regular meeting, to gain a sense of preferences held by attendees for later public outreach using Engage Bellingham for Bloedel Donovan Park.
Staff presented playground idea boards to stimulate discussion.
The playground idea boards are linked below.
To those who visit this site, you are free to browse the idea boards and contact the project manager at jschilk@cob.org with comments, preferences, questions, and suggestions.
