Lorraine Ellis Park Playground

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Consultation has concluded

*Update 8/19/2022 - Thank you for participating in the design option survey. The results of the survey are available in the Documents tab.


Project Description

The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department is planning to replace the existing playground at Lorraine Ellis Park, located in the Columbia Neighborhood on W Illinois St. When complete, residents will have new, safe, and accessible playground equipment on which to play; fall surfacing; an ADA path to West Ilinois St.; and new site furnishings. The existing park name sign will be repaired. The City is coordinating this playground renovation project with the West Illinois Multimodal Improvements project. A walkway between the playground and West Illinois Street will be constructed when the West Illinois project begins construction.


Why replace the existing playground?

The current Miracle playground equipment, installed in 1990 over pea gravel, is weathered, difficult to find parts for, lacks ADA accessibility, and fails to meet current Standard Consumer Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use (ASTM f1487). Replacement will provide the next generation of park users with fun, accessible, challenging, and cooperative play opportunities while providing diverse sensory experiences.

Project objectives:

  • To provide high quality play opportunities for tots and school age kids alike
  • To use existing playground location to minimize impacts to the lawn area lawn area
  • To provide ADA accessible path between West Illinois St and the new playground area
  • To enhance the park experience with park furnishings, including picnic table, park benches, bike racks, and park and playground rules signage

Help us design the playground replacement!

The survey shows three different options with an assortment of fun activities appealing to tots and school aged children.

The final selection of playground option depends on public input. Please view the playground options attached here and then take a quick survey to let us know what you like! We look forward to hearing from you. In addition to the online survey, Parks and Recreation Dept. staff will be attending the August 2022 Columbia Neighborhood Association meeting to gather input in person.

*Update 8/19/2022 - Thank you for participating in the design option survey. The results of the survey are available in the Documents tab.


Project Description

The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department is planning to replace the existing playground at Lorraine Ellis Park, located in the Columbia Neighborhood on W Illinois St. When complete, residents will have new, safe, and accessible playground equipment on which to play; fall surfacing; an ADA path to West Ilinois St.; and new site furnishings. The existing park name sign will be repaired. The City is coordinating this playground renovation project with the West Illinois Multimodal Improvements project. A walkway between the playground and West Illinois Street will be constructed when the West Illinois project begins construction.


Why replace the existing playground?

The current Miracle playground equipment, installed in 1990 over pea gravel, is weathered, difficult to find parts for, lacks ADA accessibility, and fails to meet current Standard Consumer Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use (ASTM f1487). Replacement will provide the next generation of park users with fun, accessible, challenging, and cooperative play opportunities while providing diverse sensory experiences.

Project objectives:

  • To provide high quality play opportunities for tots and school age kids alike
  • To use existing playground location to minimize impacts to the lawn area lawn area
  • To provide ADA accessible path between West Illinois St and the new playground area
  • To enhance the park experience with park furnishings, including picnic table, park benches, bike racks, and park and playground rules signage

Help us design the playground replacement!

The survey shows three different options with an assortment of fun activities appealing to tots and school aged children.

The final selection of playground option depends on public input. Please view the playground options attached here and then take a quick survey to let us know what you like! We look forward to hearing from you. In addition to the online survey, Parks and Recreation Dept. staff will be attending the August 2022 Columbia Neighborhood Association meeting to gather input in person.

Consultation has concluded

Please feel free to ask a question or provide a comment about the playground replacement here.

  • Share Sorry, I know it’s unrelated, but any future plans for Fouts Park… playground and landscaping are pretty sad. on Facebook Share Sorry, I know it’s unrelated, but any future plans for Fouts Park… playground and landscaping are pretty sad. on Twitter Share Sorry, I know it’s unrelated, but any future plans for Fouts Park… playground and landscaping are pretty sad. on Linkedin Email Sorry, I know it’s unrelated, but any future plans for Fouts Park… playground and landscaping are pretty sad. link

    Sorry, I know it’s unrelated, but any future plans for Fouts Park… playground and landscaping are pretty sad.

    Hoops asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your comment.  Parks and Recreation has plans to talk about which playground renovation is next, Fouts will be discussed.