Cornwall Park in Bellingham

Cornwall Park is one of the first parks I remember visiting when I was a child back in the 1950's. It was in my neighborhood and I went to Parkview elementary, that adjoins the park, and we were never allowed to go down into the park, except the last week of school we would get to have a picnic there. It is a forest with trails and, even back then, there was fear that a kid might go in and not come back out. There was, back in the 50's, a rumor that a skeleton the authorities could not identify had been found there -- probably true as my mother swears by that statement to this day. For a park in the city, it is a huge wooded area with old growth trees, two picnic shelters, two playgrounds, a spray pool (you could wade in it when I was young), Frisbee golf, hiking, tennis and so much more nature. As long as an adult it along, children can safely play in Squalicum Creek. The park was established in 1909 and is among the oldest city parks in Bellingham. Near the park, and you see it from I-5 going south is "Bug Lake." Now, back when I was a child, we had a better name for it: Lake LaRoge'. Not sure where that name came from, probably from a child's imaginations, but it came from Parkview school and sure beats the heck out of the current name. There used to be nice trout there, but not sure if there are today or not. It looks kind of muddy, of course even back then we caught lots of ugly little bullheads.

Old Growth in Cornwall Park  

Squalicum Creek is popular with the kids

Thanks for looking.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA home inspector

www.kingofthehouse.com