Recreation Northwest

  • Stewarding the Fairhaven Park trail system by removing invasive species, rerouting trails to improve access and restoring wetland habitat through native plantings.

Recognition Rock Bench

Recognition Rock Bench

To celebrate our project partners, donors and volunteers, we installed our Recognition Rock Bench to display all those involved. It is a meeting place or a spot to sit and soak in the sights and sounds of nature. Enjoy. 

Work Parties

In order to keep up our Fairhaven Park Native Plant Gardens we have Fairhaven Park Work Parties as volunteer opportunities for you to invest in the health of our community forest.  Afterwards, we convene at Stones Throw Brewery to wind up the evening. 

Stay Tuned in: Fairhaven Park Work Parties – Sign up for our eNewsletter or follow us on Facebook.

Stewardship Project Background

Recreation Northwest became Park Stewards for Fairhaven Park in 2014. We chose this particular park due to the impact we have with the trail run leg of our Bellingham Traverse. We were quickly propelled into taking on a long-term project for the health of the forest and the benefit of our community.

We are proud to be working to relocate unsanctioned trails through fragile wetlands in this special urban forest. The new trail & boardwalk connects the popular park and forest. The trail was built to city specifications allowing increased and enjoyable access for people as well as protecting this important habitat for wildlife and the ecology of the forest.

In addition, 280 native trees and shrubs were planted in the old trail areas to help restore the wetland.

We will continue to host work parties to maintain the new planting areas and remove invasive species.

Click for a printer friendly PDF map.

Phase 2 before and after:

Phase 1 before and after:

 

 

 

 

 

Check out these links for photos and videos of the now completed trail & boardwalk project: 

Fairhaven Park Boardwalk – Building a Boardwalk in the Snow

Fairhaven Park Boardwalk – Status Update

Fairhaven Park Boardwalk – Clearing the Path

Fairhaven Park Boardwalk – Scraping the Surface

Fairhaven Park Boardwalk – First Layer of Gravel

Special Thanks to our Professional Trail TEAM:
Gerry Wilbour, NW Trails
Perry Welch, Welch Environmental
Andy Law, Wilson Engineering
Chris Webb, Herrera Environmental Consultants
Jim LaHatt, LaHatt Engineering
John Gillaspy, Materials Testing & Consulting, Inc.
Josh Neyman, City of Bellingham, Parks and Recreation
Rae Edwards, City of Bellingham, Parks and Recreation

 

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Fairhaven Park posts from our blog, The Confluence

  • Recreation Northwest Takes a Tour of the Ferndale Refinery

    We got to go on a field trip to Ferndale for a driving tour of the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery! Our staff and board president were able to take a tour of the Ferndale Refinery and get to know the inner workings of the facility and enjoy conversations with our refinery hosts, Brandi and Tim.... Read More →

  • Patagonia Action Works Donation Match until December 31st!

    To support our stewardship of Fairhaven Park, Patagonia Action Works will match your donation to Recreation Northwest.  Our work plans in Fairhaven Park are underway with the City of Bellingham. We’ve been working, along with input from our friends at the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District to install way finding signs throughout the park. Our... Read More →

  • Saturday, May 18th – Fairhaven Park Stewardship Work Party

    Saturday, May 18th Fairhaven Park Work Party 10:00 am – 12:00 pm  Facebook event Meet at the upper shelter. Bus, Bike, Walk or Carpool if you can.  This work party is part of our Fairhaven Park Stewardship project. We will be removing invasive species to protect our native plants. Tools and gloves will be provided.... Read More →