Maybe that’s a stretch. But there were more runners out in the rain than participants at the meeting held in the warm and pleasantly restored facility of the county park at the west end of the Semiahmoo spit.
Of course, not all of runners were from Blaine and Birch Bay. Whatever, the enthusiasm of about 35 participants in the meeting – not near one percent of population that will benefit when the plans discussed materialize – made up for the small number.
The commissioners are obviously intent on building a program that will appeal to the community that covers area of the Blaine school district, excepting for Pt. Roberts. They got a 10-cent levy passed in November to restart the district that began in 1982with active programs, and then fell dormant when a renewal levy failed in 1986.
For most of the two hours the commissioners listened to suggestions from participants. First, groups sitting at round tables brainstormed ideas. Then one person from each table reported to the room. Suggestions varied widely, including walking trails and classes for older people well as youth and even softball for seniors. Swimming lessons were suggested with the hope that a pool – perhaps at Semiahmoo Resort – would be made available.
Several qualified instructors have volunteered to teach various classes. The first scheduled session is free golf lessons for six youngsters with Brian Southwick, the pro at Sealinks Golf Course.
Much of the discussion centered on a ball field at Horizon Park, a World War II military facility that is now in the Whatcom County park system. It is located off Alderson Road in Birch Bay, west of Blaine Road and near the large Bay Crest development and other family homes nearby.
Commissioner Richard Sturgill mentioned an unused utility right-of-way that could be utilized for a trail between Blaine and Birch Bay, creating a leg of the Millennium Trail that will someday connect Vancouver with Seattle.James Bolick and Christie Rector were there to speak for Blaine Youth Baseball that involves some 200 boys and girls from age seven to 13. They explain their teams are now limited to a short season. Their only fields are at the school district’s Pipeline facility that closes down in mid June with the end of the school year. Mr. Bolick, who lives in Birch Bay Village, played baseball at Horizon as a youth. While now it is very much a diamond in the rough, there is plenty of unused space.
Ms. Rector, who lives in Blaine, explained that the Mariners as well as the Babe Ruth and Cal Ripkin junior baseball organizations make funds available to pay for amenities such as bleachers and backstops if the facility is unrelated to a school district. Both agreed that Blaine parents would have no more trouble getting their kids to a Birch Bay field than Birch Bay parents have getting their kids to Blaine.
Another advantage is that Horizon Park is under-utilized except for a hostel and Lions program for disadvantaged youth in the summer. Along with kitchen and showers, there is a small gym and a one-lane bowling alley. Jim Bolick, who thinks like an entrepreneur, says there is a modest moneymaking opportunity to attract visitors with tournaments. Commissioner Terry Johnson said that when he lived in Southern California he built a number of ball fields with volunteers.
First on the agenda is a master plan. Qualified consultants are being invited to submit proposals. Commissioner Ted Morris, our leading donation-getter, is confident that the levy amount of approximately $325,000 per year can be extended by contributions and volunteer workers to a value of $450,000.
After this good meeting, it is easy to imagine a Blaine-Birch BayTrail Race in 2010 race over a new leg of Millennium Trail. Then a party at Horizon Park!
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