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Port Funds Ferndale Project
Feb. 16, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Casey
360-676-2500 FERNDALE RIVERVIEW PROJECT GAINS PORT SUPPORT
Trail Will Link Downtown with Ferndale Parks [Bellingham, Wash.] The city of Ferndale’s Riverview Plaza and Trail project got a boost earlier this month when the Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners approved $21,500 in matching funds for the effort.
The Riverview Plaza and Trail Plan is part of a downtown revitalization strategy for Ferndale. It will connect the commercial core along Main Street with Pioneer and Vanderyacht Parks. Once completed, it will provide a traveling corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.
This will be a three-block-long, 40-foot wide pedestrian promenade along the Nooksack River in downtown Ferndale. It is considered a critical element in the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. Once completed, this enhancement is expected to help Ferndale with business and job creation. Ferndale City Administrator Greg Young presented the project to the Port Commission.
The Port’s Small City Economic Development Fund is part of an economic development effort by the Port of Bellingham that dedicates matching funds to small cities to help them move ahead with economic development projects. The Port anticipates dedicating $50,000 a year to this effort over a five-year period. During the first two years, the Port provided matching funds to eight small cities projects in Sumas, Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine, and Everson.
The Port-funded countywide Partnership for a Sustainable Economy, with representatives from all of the small cities, evaluates applications for these funds and provides recommendations to the Port Commission. This Ferndale project was unanimously supported by the Partnership.
The city of Ferndale already has approved its master trail system plan including this project. Ferndale will use the Port matching funds to pay for professional services for the design-engineering part of the project. The design and engineering is expected to be completed by January 2007. -30-
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