Celebrate the collective power of community by joining the City of Bellingham and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) as well as many other community partners for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Community Work Party on Saturday, January 14th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Little Squalicum Park.
Together, we will restore habitat and improve water quality by planting native plants and removing invasive plants in and around the new Little Squalicum Estuary, an important shoreline habitat that the City began constructing in 2022 as a place for young salmon to grow before migrating to the ocean. This project is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in the fall of 2023, depending on supply chain availability. This work party is a unique opportunity for the community to directly contribute to the project’s construction.
Through this work, we hope to exemplify the environmental justice movement, which was inspired by Dr. King through his concern for the urban environment. Environmental justice embodies the principle that all people have the right to clean air, water, and soil, as well as the right to live in safe and healthy communities.
To further support our community, this event is partnering with the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters to accept donations for this organization’s work. Birchwood Food Desert Fighters works to promote greater food access and a sense of community through weekly events, a network of food share boxes, food delivery, community farming, advocacy, and more.
Event participants are encouraged to bring donations such as shelf-stable milk and proteins, unopened toiletries, and laundry detergent to the work party to support the Fighters’ work.
This event will conclude with free pizza donated by Papa Johns and closing remarks from some of the supporters of this project.
All ages, abilities, and experience levels are welcome!
Here are some quick reminders about our youth liability release form:
- Unaccompanied youth under age 18 must provide a City & NSEA Youth Liability Release Form signed and completed by their legal guardian.
- This liability release form can be completed online when registering or you can bring a signed paper copy to the event.
- Participants under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
You need: Weather-appropriate clothing, long pants, closed-toe shoes, snacks, and a full water bottle.
We provide: Tools, gloves, instruction, and light refreshments, including free Tony’s coffee and Papa Johns pizza, which were both generously donated for this event.
Volunteers should be aware that the work party site includes construction related obstacles and partially completed structures along with typical park uneven terrain. Volunteers assume all liability for conducting volunteer work within the project area.
Our volunteer work parties follow our safety protocols and current health department guidelines. Additional information and reminders will be emailed to registered participants. If you sign up, please show up!
Register early. Space is limited!
Important note about online registration:
Registration is not complete until you see this webpage:
After you complete the required waiver, please remember to click the "Sign up" button to complete your registration. Completing the waiver does not automatically sign you up.
Additional Registration Tips:
- After you have completed the required waiver (adult or youth), please be sure to then click "Sign Up" to complete your registration for the event! Completing the waiver does not automatically sign you up.
- If you are bringing any additional volunteers or family members, please sign up as a team or have them join the site, sign the waiver, and then sign up individually. Here are some resources:
- If you are bringing any youth under age 18 and have issues with the waiver or don’t want to create a separate account for them, you can also sign a paper youth waiver at check-in on the day of the work party. Just be sure to reserve spots on your team for them.
- Thank you for your patience as we continue to iron out the details with our volunteer registration system!
Directions:
This event takes place at Little Squalicum Park at 640 Marine Drive. The sign-in area will be in the Northeast section of the park. Due to the construction of the estuary, it is easiest to access the park from the Bellingham Technical College (BTC) parking lot on the north side of BTC, located off of West Illinois Street. Carpooling is encouraged if driving to this event.
To get to the work party from Bellingham, travel northwest on Eldridge Avenue until it turns into Marine Drive, then turn right onto W. Illinois. Turn right into the BTC parking lot and follow work party signs to the blue tents. Find directions to the site on Google Maps.
Travel by bike or foot: The work party site is accessible by bike or foot. Find your bike route by visiting cob.org/bike and your walking route by viewing a trail map of Little Squalicum Park [PDF]. A free bike valet located near the sign-in tents will be provided by Let’s Bike Bellingham!
Travel by bus: Several Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes serve the area. Find your route using the online trip planner at ridewta.com.
Map:
Questions? Contact pkvolunteers@cob.org or 360-778-7105.
This event is Parkscriptions Certified!
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Western Washington University, the City of Bellingham, and many other local partners will also be hosting an event honoring Dr. King at the MLK Day Special Event on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 8 - 11:30 a.m.
