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A Local's Guide to Bellingham Treasures
This week the city of Bellingham came a quarter mile closer to completing
the unification project of its waterfront for all to enjoy. An extended
boardwalk for pedestrians and bicyclists was added to the existing route
from Boulevard Park over the bay to the Fairhaven District. Under
construction for the past year, the new addition was unexpectedly opened a
few weeks early by vandals who took down barrier gates during the evening
last week. No damage was done to the walkway, which was already completed
and awaiting its first visitors, so park officials left the gates open.
By Sunday, hundreds of curious walkers took advantage of clearing skies and
took their first stroll over a long stretch of Bellingham's scenic bay. The
new addition easily accommodates all speeds of traffic, from leisurely
couples holding hands to young kids fresh off training wheels. As well, the
new stretch over the bay offers several turnouts for fisherman reeling in
today's catch, or avid photographers trying to capture sailboats silhouetted
in the perfect sunset.
Whereas the old Boulevard boardwalk ended at an outcroppings of rocks with
trails and a small beach, the new walkway curves farther out into the bay
and offers excellent views of downtown Bellingham, Mount Baker and Old
Fairhaven. Along the way, be sure to notice a relic of Bellingham's lost
industry: a boulder sized lump of century old tin scraps left from the boom
in salmon canning. The rusty rock sits about a dozen yards off shore and has
telltale rust patches distinguishing it from the sandstone all around.
The new boardwalk comes back to land at the Chrysalis, Bellingham's premier
spa resort. This connection to parks and commerce is the ongoing vision of
city planners. Once lost shoreline is being reclaimed from industry and
revitalized form public enjoyment. Currently a pedestrian can travel along
the beautiful bay from Fairhaven to downtown without crossing traffic,
thanks to the new boardwalk. The goal, however, is to connect the Old
Fairhaven Marina to Squalicum Marina without ever giving up your ocean view.
Written By: Jason Small
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