Equity in Access to the Puget Sound in Bellingham

Many of you know I try to get involved in projects that help non-profit groups who are always trying to improve the lives of families, kids, and Vets in Whatcom County.

The American Legion will host 200 traveling veterans who are coming in from Kansas, Texas, New Hampshire, and several other states to participate with Warrior Service in its annual fishing and crabbing outing on the Puget Sound. Warrior Service was started by David Libby, a retired Army officer, in 2014. David witnessed the positive impact the outdoors was having on the Vets around him participating in fishing and hunting he was doing each year with a handful of Vets.

Recently David shared with my Rotary Club that this helps the vets reduce the risks inherent with isolation. The American Legion is so critically concerned with the suicide rate amongst Vets that the "Be the One" program, established a few years ago, is meant to support the effort to reduce the risks of suicide.

All these Vets will converge on Whatcom County this weekend, Sept 5–7, to enjoy salmon fishing hosted by Warrior Service.

You can enjoy the bounty as it will be cooked up and provided at the American Legion Post 86 on Sunday 9/7 at 3PM, with the Sons of the Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary assisting in the cooking and serving at this open public event. Just Google "American Legion Blaine WA" for directions. A donation is appreciated for all the fixings you will enjoy.

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David Marod, who served in the USN, has been the strong voice for providing a non-motorized boat ramp in Bellingham to help those who want access to the water.

I am the advocate member from the Bellingham Sunrise Rotary to assist David in getting the word out on this much-needed addition to our waterfront.

I am very much in favor of making the water experience safer — especially for all the kids who regularly are sailing out of the same area. Learning how to sail is a challenge in itself. All would benefit from not having to navigate the motorized traffic launching from the same area currently.

Here is David's most recent summer blog on the project:

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Waterfront Access: The New Non-Motorized Boat Launch at Zuanich Point Park

By David Marod

In the heart of Bellingham's bustling waterfront, a new project is quietly transforming access to the water — one that reflects our community's values of recreation, sustainability, and inclusion. The Bellingham Sailing Foundation and the Sunrise Rotary Club, in partnership with the Bellingham Yacht Club, the Port of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham, and the Whatcom Sailing Foundation, are leading the charge to build a dedicated non-motorized boat launch at Zuanich Point Park.

This initiative is more than just a ramp — it's a commitment to access. For decades, Zuanich has served as a launch point for small craft like kayaks, paddleboards, dinghies, and youth sailing boats. However, with the rise in motorized traffic and changes to the waterfront over time, safe and equitable access for non-motorized users has diminished. That's about to change.

The proposed launch is a wide, gently sloped ramp designed specifically for hand-carried watercraft. Located near the current youth facilities, the new ramp will restore safe, year-round access for paddlers, rowers, and sailors alike. Importantly, the design prioritizes safety and environmental sustainability. It avoids the need for large trailers, minimizes shoreline impact, and fits seamlessly into the working waterfront environment that defines Squalicum Harbor.

From a community perspective, the ramp will serve multiple user groups. Youth sailing programs — including those run by the Whatcom Sailing Foundation and the Bellingham Yacht Club — will benefit directly. These programs depend on consistent, safe water access to continue providing low-cost instruction and water safety education to hundreds of local kids each year. Similarly, the ramp will offer an inclusive launch point for people with limited mobility, making it easier to carry out boats without having to navigate steep rocks or active marina traffic.

For the public at large, the ramp offers an alternative to crowded motorized launch sites or distant freshwater lakes. Whether you're a weekend paddleboarder, a dinghy racer, Ski to Sea participant, or just a family looking for a quiet way to explore Bellingham Bay, the Zuanich ramp will make it easier — and safer — to get on the water.

The project is already gathering support. Grant applications are underway, and a fundraising effort is in motion to cover costs. The Rotary Club has committed both advocacy and financial resources, and the project has been met with strong interest from the Port and other community stakeholders.

We believe this ramp will be a lasting gift to our city — a place where everyone, regardless of age or background, can launch into the beautiful waters of Bellingham Bay. We invite you to support this effort, share the news, and help us bring this vision to life.

Together, we can return Zuanich Point to what it's meant to be: a true community launch point for all.

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Thanks, David — for those so moved, please feel free to visit the Bellingham Sailing Foundation's "What We Are Working On" page, which explains the details and shows pictures of where the ramp will go.

If you would like to donate $5, $20, $100 or more — every dollar will help us get to the $200,000 needed for this to happen.

Donations can be made at the bottom of the "Working On" section:

bellinghamsailingfoundation.org/what-were-working-on

Much appreciated — Dennis Kaiser