Details following gas leak during construction on State Street and Magnolia Street

Construction occurring on the intersection of North State Street and East Magnolia Street was disrupted last Tuesday afternoon, May 6, at 2 p.m. when a natural gas line was hit, as the City of Bellingham said.  

An excavator caused the leak, which was meant to break up the surrounding asphalt, when it accidentally broke the gas the line, according to the City of Bellingham. A few businesses near the construction site, including The Velvet Rope Hair Studio, had to be evacuated after the gas leak occurred. Even though no hazard was expected to harm the community, there was a slight gas odor from the release that many citizens in the area detected.

There were emergency crews on the scene including the Bellingham Fire Department, City of Bellingham Public Works, and Cascade Natural Gas. Until the leak was under control and the work to repair the gas line was completed, the crews wanted citizens to stay out of the area in order to take safe precautions. The Bellingham Fire crews monitored the gas in the air once they were on the scene but said most of the gas was dissipating, partly due to the windy conditions last Tuesday.

The repairing of the line was estimated to be completed by 6 p.m., according to the City of Bellingham website.

Construction on North State Street and Magnolia Street is ongoing due to the annual water main replacement and one-lane closures are expected to occur in the area throughout the next week.

Nice weather bringing York residents to Franklin Park, right-of-way issues may arise

With the end of last week’s sunny weather heading into the 70’s, many Yorkers gathered at Franklin Park on the 1200^th block between Whatcom Street and Franklin Street. Children, parents, and adults were entertained by the basketball court, picnic-seating area, and grassy open space that provided space for Frisbee and passing around the soccer ball.

The summery days ahead will bring much more activity to the park and opportunities for observation of the surrounding area. The right-of-way on the block of the park has many patches of grass and open area that has become a place for potential natural vegetation. There is also open space in Franklin Park for a trail system for the public. Another area that needs improving and vegetation, according to the York Neighborhood Plan, is the street island north of the park. York residents have put a lot of effort into restoring the park and have been working with the Parks Volunteer Program to help restore the right-of-way area.

Summer has not yet begun and only two days of hot weather brought a decent amount of activity to the park. The volunteers already familiar with the existing potential vegetation and unused space will continue to work for it to be improved, as was said at the neighborhood association meeting, and hope that others will become aware of the problem too.

A work party with the Parks Volunteer Program started restoring the area last month and will continue to help organize events where York residents can come restore natural vegetation to the area. When benches and trails are to be added, the community hopes that the City Planning Department will assist them in their attempts to make the park an attractive and friendly area.

Franklin Park already has much to offer and the York community would like to see it the best condition possible.