Construction Begins on Fairhaven Kayak Dock, Expanding Public Water Access

The Port of Bellingham has started construction on a new kayak dock and pocket beach to improve public access to Bellingham Bay. Located near the Community Boating Center (CBC) in Fairhaven, the dock will be ready for use in early 2027.

The 140-foot-long floating dock will provide a universally accessible hand-launch facility for the public. The dock and pocket beach were designed in partnership with local paddling professionals at the Community Boating Center (CBC).

“The Fairhaven Kayak Dock will create more opportunities for people of all abilities to connect with the water,” said CBC Executive Director Bryan Rust, a long-time Port tenant which fosters small-watercraft education, access, safe recreation and marine stewardship. “The CBC partnered with the Port of Bellingham on the project allowing us to help shape a space that prioritizes inclusion and accessibility. Each season, participants with disabilities spend more than 900 hours on the water with us through adaptive sailing and paddling, and many thousands more experience Bellingham Bay through our programs. The new dock will make sailing, paddling and other human-powered boating easier and safer for our community.”

A $500K grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office through the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account helped fund the project.

Watch construction on the Community Boating Center’s live webcam and visit the Port’s Fairhaven Kayak Dock webpage for regular updates and additional project details.

About the Port of Bellingham
From Fairhaven to Squalicum Harbor to Blaine, the Port of Bellingham creates thousands of high-wage/high-demand jobs, helps support regional maritime industry, and contributes billions of dollars in economic activity across Whatcom County. We also lead major waterfront environmental cleanup and maintain the parks, trails, and boat launches that connect residents and visitors to the Salish Sea every day.