NWPRD2 Accomplishments
OVERVIEW:
BAY HORIZON COUNTY PARK
Gym restoration – new Activity Center development
Playground installation
CITY OF BLAINE - Inter-local Agreements
Hughes Bayview Park - enhancement
Peace Portal Community Trail
Marine Park - birding shelters
Dakota Creek - kayak launch
Salishan Park – seasonal restroom facilities
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Blaine Senior Center - exercise equipment
Drayton Harbor Maritime - Sailing School
Blaine Boys & Girls Club – “Teach Me To Golf” program
Blaine Youth Baseball – program support
Grateful Dogs Unleashed – support for the dog park
Blaine Primary School – drama program
Recreation Activity Programs
FUTURE PROJECTS
Bay Horizon Park – sports fields
Safe bicycle and walking trails
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DETAILS:
BAY HORIZON COUNTY PARK
For decades, Bay Horizon County Park,
which used to be the Blaine Air Force Base,
was not utilized to its fullest potential.
During our many community meetings that
were held prior to our 2007 Levy and during
our Master Planning process, Bay Horizon
County Park was mentioned many times.
Plans were discussed for renovating the
gym, adding sports fields and a playground.
This park will take some pressure off
Pipeline Field and the Blaine School gyms.
Gym Restoration – new Activity Center
development
In the Fall of 2009, NWPRD2 negotiated
with WCP and the Lions Club Camp
Horizon Foundation for the lease of the
old Air Force gym. For a few decades, it
was only used as a summer camp gym
for Camp Horizon’s disabled adults.
NWPRD2 signed an agreement with WCP
to lease the gym while still making it
available for the summer camp. Its
largest project to date, NWPRD2 invested
$153,000 in renovating and bringing the
gym up to code. Floors were refinished
and energy efficient heat and ambient
lighting were installed. The Activity Center
is already in use and will soon house our
main office operations.
Playground installation
Whatcom County Park's (WCP) Master Plan
lists Bay Horizon Park as a community park
rather than a regional park. WCP’s Director
Mike McFarlane and NWPRD2 Commis-
sioners have recognized and discussed the
partnerships that could happen. The first
step was completing a master plan for the
park, which was done in 2009. In 2010,
NWPRD2 purchased a playground structure
for $35,000 and partnered with WCP to install
it. WCP paid $65,000 for the wetland delin-
eation study, permits and installation with
funds from the Real Estate Excise Tax. Being
the only playground in Birch Bay, this area has
become very popular with the local community
and is visited by residents throughout the
District. NWPRD2 has a lease for the play-
ground and is responsible for its maintenance.
This is a project that demonstrates how
partnerships with other entities can stretch our
taxpayer's investment.
CITY OF BLAINE - Inter-local Agreements
Northwest Park & Recreation District 2 and the
City of Blaine entered into several agreements
that provided park and recreation opportunities
for the citizens of the District. These partnerships
enabled the District to accomplish several of its
goals while stretching available tax dollars. The
projects have improved the community we live in.
The projects are Hughes Bayview Park, Peace
Portal Community Trail, Marine Park Shelters,
and Dakota Creek Kayak Launch.
Hughes Bayview Park - enhancement
Located at the end of Pearl Street, the site was
cleared, landscaped and a picnic table and
bench were installed. It is a beautiful park with
views of Drayton Harbor and the Canadian Gulf
Islands. The District’s contribution of $6,500 was
matched by the City.
Peace Portal Community Trail
A safe bike and walking trail between Birch Bay
and Blaine was the number one request from
community meetings. The District agreed to
provide $25,000 toward the Peace Portal
Community Trail project. City staff, volunteers
and District Commissioners constructed a
gravel trail three blocks long for $6,193. The
City applied for a grant to improve the gravel
trail with a letter of support from the District
and our contribution as the matching cash
share of the grant. The grant total is over
$125,000. It will be an asphalt trail which
makes it more accessible, starting at Cherry
Street and ending at Mary Avenue. This is
great leverage of the taxpayer’s investment
and a demonstration of the partnerships that
the District has made.
Marine Park – funding for new shelters
The shelters at Marine Park had deteriorated
and needed to be replaced. The District
contributed $25,000 with the City then matching
funds. This enabled two shelters to be built
instead of one. This is a great place for people
to view the Bay and the many species of birds
that visit our area.
Dakota Creek - kayak launch
One of the District’s main goals was to provide
water access especially in the Blaine area. The
Dakota Creek Kayak Launch accomplishes this
goal at a minimal cost to the citizens. The City
owned the property and matched the District’s
contribution of $8,000. Located on the east side
of Drayton Harbor at the mouth of Dakota Creek,
this is an easy site to launch a kayak or other
non-motorized small boat. It’s also a great place
for viewing wildlife and fishing.
Salishan Park – seasonal restroom facilities
Salishan Community Park could be the most
used neighborhood park in Blaine. “Tot moms”
come and gather daily at the park with their young
children to play on the playground equipment.
Young adults use the park’s basketball court.
The “tot moms” requested a toilet for the site.
The City of Blaine approached the District asking
for our help. For the last three years, NWPRD2 has
provided the funding for portable restrooms at the
park from Spring to Fall.
Interpretive Signage Plan
In May 2011, Commissioners approved a $1,500
grant to the City of Blaine to be used for interpretive
signage at the Blaine Wharf and Semiahmoo Spit.
Signs will inform visitors and residents about the
unique history, geography, and wildlife that is part
of the fascinating story of this area. 4 interpretive
signs and 2 interpretive trail map signs will soon
be installed.
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COMMUNITY PROJECTS – benefitting the people of our District
Blaine Senior Center - exercise equipment
NWPRD2 provided the funding for three new exercise machines for the Blaine Senior Center. The Center’s weight and exercise room is very popular with senior citizens, and there was a need for additional equipment because of the high volume of use. With limited funds available to them, the Board of Directors of the Senior Center asked if the District could help purchase three aerobic type fitness machines. The District has provided over $11,000 in funds for purchase of a new treadmill, a recumbent stair-step exercise machine, (this machine is important for those who have trouble standing), and an elliptical stair-stepped type machine. These machines help to keep the community’s seniors living well and in good shape.
Drayton Harbor Maritime - Sailing School
Funding from NWPRD2 for the last three years has helped Drayton Harbor Maritime’s sailing program to become this community’s first sailing school. The school has graduated over one hundred adult and teenage students. The program provides a safe and meaningful summer activity while teaching valuable water, boating, and safety skills. District funds have provided the program with a new safety boat, trailer, and engine; money for sailing instructors; insurance for the sailing program; maintenance of the program’s sailing boats; and advertising and office support. Donated money has also provided scholarships for residents which reduce sailing instruction fees from $118 to $75. The sailing school has provided partial and full scholarships for any child in the community who meets the “federal free and reduced lunch standards”. This makes the Blaine Sailing School the lowest priced U.S. Sailing Association certified program in the Northwest and possibly in the country.
Blaine Boys & Girls Club – “Teach Me To Golf” program
One of the first program partners with the District was the Blaine Boys and Girls Club on the "Teach Me To Golf" program. As the District was starting up again after a 20-year hiatus, a friend who is a golf pro approached Commissioner Ted Morris and offered to teach a beginning golf class to disadvantaged kids who might not ever have the opportunity to step onto a golf course. Brian Southwick offered his time for free, Ted helped out with the first year's class, and they had six very enthusiastic boys and girls who learned that they had some real talent for golf. NWPRD2 bought six sets of junior clubs and paid for the driving range balls. This is the fourth year the District has sponsored these golf classes.
Blaine Youth Baseball – program support
Over the last three years, NWPRD2 has given $4,000 to Blaine Youth Baseball. ($1,000 the first year and $1,500 the last two years). Funds went towards operating expenses, purchasing and maintaining equipment, uniforms, updating First Aid kits, a new chalk machine, and scholarships for equipment and aid in helping kids whose parents did not have the resources to play the sport.
Grateful Dogs Unleashed – support for the dog park
In April 2011, NWPRD2 contributed $750 to Grateful Dogs Unleashed. The funds will be used as a 2-year assistance grant to benefit the dog park located at Skallman Park. The funds will be used to purchase supplies, repair fencing and fixtures, and eliminate wet muddy areas.
Blaine Primary School – drama program
In 2008 when school budget cuts threatened to eliminate the Blaine Primary Drama Program, a popular after school activity, NWPRD2 stepped in and helped the show go on. Time was donated by the drama teacher, and NWPRD2 donated a few hundred dollars for the costumes. After many practices, the primary students put on a great production of "101 Dalmatians".
Recreation Activity Programs
With the opening of a new office in Blaine, NWPRD2 has worked since 2008 to offer the community a variety of recreational and leisure activities and classes. The Summer program has been the most popular, but with the new addition of the Activity Center in Birch Bay, we hope to now offer more programs throughout the year. In 2009, our activity program theme of “Step Out For Fun!” was used as the design of our parade entry for Blaine’s Fourth of July festivities. Our entry could not be missed as the colorful sails of one of the sailing school’s boats floated down the street. We were rewarded with the Judges’ Choice 1st place trophy!
FUTURE PROJECTS
Bay Horizon Park – sports fields
After the master planning process, it was decided that because of the many areas of wetlands in Bay Horizon County Park, only one small multi-purpose sports field could be constructed there. NWPRD2 is moving forward with plans to construct that field in partnership with WCP and volunteers. NWPRD2 has also been in negotiations with BP Cherry Point Refinery to build a sports field complex in the southern part of the District at Point Whitehorn.
Safe bicycle and walking trails
The number one request at our community planning meetings was for safe bicycle and walking trails, as well as a trail that connects the two communities of Blaine and Birch Bay. These trails are popular with everyone from youth to senior citizens and are a great investment in the health and recreation of our future generations. NWPRD2 has been working with Whatcom County, WA State Department of Transportation and local land owners for four years to establish these trails. Progress is being made and we are close to signing easement agreements for the major off road portion of a trail from Blaine to Birch Bay. Our trail system will reach from Birch Bay State Park to the border at Peace Arch State Park. Although some trails have been installed along Peace Portal in Blaine, this year's levy funds will be needed to construct the final trail connections.
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