Location
Bellingham, Wa
Client
City of Bellingham Park
Project Description
In 2015, Bellingham Parks selected RWD to develop the master plan for a new community park. RWD was tasked with finding space on site for the following program elements, identified during the public engagement process, also led by RWD: a 20,000 sq. ft. community-sized, inclusive playground; Washington state’s first outdoor Parkour element; a paved-surface pump track; a splash pad; a picnic shelter with associated picnic area; a 3-unit restroom building; parks maintenance facility; two 80 vehicle parking lots; a 20,000 sq. ft. grass playfield; an 11,000 sq. ft. sport court area for basketball and pickleball; an 8,000 sq. ft. community activity pavilion; and a 3/4 mile trail system with six, steel bridges capable of supporting emergency and park maintenance vehicles.
Using our creative design abilities, RWD was able to fit all of the program elements onto the site, and still manage to minimize the associated impacts under the regulatory authority of the USACE, WDOE, and the City of Bellingham as follows: 0.39 acres of direct wetland impact (fill) – less than the 1/2-acre threshold for triggering advanced USACE permitting; 0.89 acres of indirect wetland impact; and 0.54 acres of buffer impact.
Compensatory mitigation was proposed in the form of on-site wetland creation and enhancement, and buffer enhancement. Proposed mitigation includes: a total of 0.53 acres of wetland creation; 1.85 acres of wetland enhancement; and 1.86 acres of buffer enhancement. RWD prepared, processed, and gain approval for all environmental, land use, and building permits.