Pile drivers work on waterfront park project

Whatcom Construction is at work this week driving piles to shore up the battered Libby Beach Park owned by Island County.

When the firm’s crane arrived Monday, another piece of the road to the sea had been washed out by a storm the night before. “One more storm like that and we’ll lose our road,” said Lee McFarland, Island County Parks director.

But the construction company is there to prevent such problems in the future. Jason Bodger, an employee, said about 130 piles will be driven to create a seawall. “It’ll keep the rest of the beach from washing away,” he said. The pile driving part of the project is expected to take a week.

Construction will include a public walkway to the beach, something that has been off-limits for about two years, according to McFarland. The walkway will be located where an old boat launch that had not been used for many years once was situated.

The small park provides 270-feet of public beach. It’s a good place to watch the waves and enjoy the view to the west.

McFarland said the project will cost $161,000. Work should be completed by the end of January.

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