It Takes A Community
Development of a waterfront park on former industrial land was a daunting undertaking. It succeeded due to common community goals, civic leadership and the determination of Byron Elmendorf, Director of the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department from 1978-2000.
Once Boulevard Park was built, Elmendorf turned his attention to the vision of a walkway connecting Taylor Dock to Boulevard Park. Facing numerous obstacles, including complex ownership, permitting, environmental impacts, industrial contamination, and skepticism, Elmendorf persisted. After his retirement in 2000, Taylor Dock finally opened in 2004.
Sidebar: "When I'm done, it will always be good to come to one of our parks and see people having fun." It Takes a Community... --Byron Elmendorf
Figure 1 (Above): Byron Elmendorf at the dedication of
this page online
Figure 2 (Left): Industrial vacant land along the Bellingham Waterfront (Circa 1970). Photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.
Location. 48° 43.539′ N, 122° 30.427′ W. Marker is in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. It is on S Bay Trail, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bellingham WA 98225, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Legacy of Byron Elmendorf (here, next to this marker); Fairhaven Canning Company (within shouting distance of this
More about this marker. The marker is located at the north end of the sheltered area that is just north of the end of Taylor Dock.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 553 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 20, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
