Waypoint Park in Bellingham wins a Best Restored Beach Award

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) awarded Waypoint Park in Bellingham, WA to receive one of four Best Restored Beach award in the country. This award was developed to highlight the hard work, protection and enhancement that comes with any beach project. In addition to Bellingham, beach projects in Louisiana, Texas and Florida were also honored.  

“This award acknowledges the remarkable public investment and commitment by the City of Bellingham toward this early action that restores and reclaims our industrial waterfront," said Leslie Bryson, Parks and Recreation Director.

ASBPA's award celebrates the broad benefits that come from beaches, including storm protection, habitat restoration, recreation, tourism, and protection against sea level rise. The nomination for Waypoint Park Beach was submitted by the beach designer, Jim Johannessen of Coastal Geologic Services in Bellingham.  

The nomination described the beach as "the first public waterfront access point in an ongoing reclamation and redevelopment project on the site of a historic industrial pulp mill." Additionally, the beach is adjacent to Whatcom Creek, an important wild salmon-bearing stream, and provides the only direct public waterfront access in downtown.

The beach restoration included removal of an old creosote bulkhead, fill excavation, capping and nourishment to create the pocket beach and backshore. The finished beach creates new opportunities for forage fish spawning along Whatcom Waterway, and is a new favorite spot for the public.

For more information on Waypoint Park, see the City's website at: www.cob.org/gov/projects/Pages/Parks/whatcom-waterway-park.aspx.