Damage reported at Sehome Hill Arboretum in Bellingham
Bellingham Parks and Recreation and Western Washington University are hoping to stop graffiti and unauthorized mountain bike trails at Sehome Hill Arboretum.
The arboretum, on the south side of the city next to Western Washington University, has175.5 acres full of hiking trails. Bikes are not allowed on most arboretum trails, yet mountain bike trails have been found, as have graffiti and even campfires, according to city Park Operations Manager Steve Janiszewski Monday afternoon, Nov. 14.
Janiszewski told The Bellingham Herald he believes most people do not intend to break the rules, they just don’t know what they are. The mountain bike trail, for example, was made over several days by people with hand tools and stretches over a hundred feet. When signs were posted near the trail detailing trail building was against the rules, the trail stopped.
“We either think it is people moving to the area who are just new to Bellingham, or it is students coming in from other places around the country and maybe they just don’t have an awareness of why the arboretum is there and how we are trying to protect it,” Janiszewski said.
The arboretum is co-owned by the city and WWU, and there are laws against damaging the area, but it is difficult to charge anyone who is not caught in the act. Janiszewski said there needs to be definitive evidence. Right now, the best way to prevent this damage is to tell people about the rules, and why the arboretum is important.
“It is mainly undeveloped, second-growth forest that was cut in the 1800s. I want to call it more of a preserve than a park just because it is a lot of natural forest,” Janiszewski said. “There are trails, there is a historic tunnel that goes to a sandstone ridge over the top, but there isn’t really any other development... We want recreation to happen, but low-impact recreation. That is why hiking is permitted but mountain biking is not.”
The city and WWU are asking people to leave no trace and report all issues and incidents by sending an online service request to fixit@wwu.edu. If you are interested in signing up to be a Park Steward or participate in a volunteer work party, contact the Parks Volunteer Program at volunteerbellingham.org.
For more information about the arboretum, including rules, visit cob.org/sehome-arboretum.
