Arroyo Park is an 85-acre park in the South Neighborhood, accessed off Chuckanut Drive and Old Samish Road or via the Interurban Greenway and Trail system. The park is the north gateway to recreational opportunities in the Chuckanut Mountains. Chuckanut Creek runs through the park for approximately ½ of a mile and supports various fish runs. Arroyo Park includes a 62-foot-long pedestrian bridge over Chuckanut Creek, connecting the Interurban Trail to the trails of Arroyo Park and Larrabee State Park and serving as an important recreational resource for the community.
The main bridge crossing Chuckanut Creek, was damaged in January 2021 when a tree fell on it during a winter storm. After a lengthy permitting process, the bridge repairs were completed in Fall 2023
The project required multiple permits at the federal, state and City levels:
- City of Bellingham – State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
- City of Bellingham – Shoreline Development Permit Exemption (SDP, Type II)
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) – Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Section 404/10 Permit (Nationwide Permit (NWP) #3 – Maintenance)
- USACE Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA)
- Certification and Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Consistency Determination
Funding
$560,000 in Greenway Levy Funds
Status
Construction is complete and the bridge is now open.
