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

Sanitary Service Company, Inc. (SSC) and its subsidiary, Recycling Services Inc. (RSI) is Whatcom County's largest, full-service recycling and waste collection company. Locally owned and operated, we provide waste and recycling collection services to over 40,000 commercial and residential customers in Bellingham, Ferndale, Birch Bay and the
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