Final Rhetorical Review

Every once in a while everybody needs a stress reliever and a day out at the park is a perfect break from life stressors. It does not matter what the cause of the stress is, but being out at the park is definitely therapeutic. Boulevard Park is an excellent place to take a break from it all and relax for a few hours. The park has an incredible view, but it is more than just a nice park on the Bellingham shoreline. It is a place that has been established over many generations and has a distinct character due to the type of people and the memories that the park holds.

Boulevard Park was established by the city of Bellingham in 1980 (Bellingham Parks). So, this park has been around for a relatively short time compared to other parks and is much different today than when it was first built. The major recent addition is the Taylor street boardwalk, which enhances the beauty of this shoreline park (Bellingham Parks). It is the perfect place for a short afternoon stroll before the sun goes down and is irreplaceable among parks in the Bellingham area.

This park is located in a marvelous location, right on Bellingham Bay in between downtown Bellingham and the Fairhaven district. This placement of the park allows the park visitors to enjoy the beauty of the scenery. The most stunning time to visit the park is at sunset. It is truly amazing to watch the sun gently trickle across the horizon. This incredible scenery creates a buzz around the park and can be felt through the joyful moods of everyone in the area. It is impossible to not be upbeat when viewing this perfect sight!

(Foursquare)

The beauty of Boulevard Park is shown in this picture above. Watching a sunset at Boulevard Park is second to none! This is a must see for everyone visiting the area and never gets old for frequent visitors!

One of the most popular places at Boulevard Park and a personal favorite is the big grassy area in the middle of the park. This area is often very crowded due to being used for numerous activities. It is a dynamic area, but the most frequent activity is Frisbee. Adam Barker, a lifelong Bellingham resident was kind enough to answer a couple of my questions and said “The grassy field is always hectic, but it seems most times I come here there is either a ultimate Frisbee game going on or kids tossing the Frisbee back and forth with each other” (Adam Barker Interview). This adds to the incredible atmosphere around the park and creates something cool to watch even if there is no interest in playing Frisbee!

(Bellingham’s Boulevard Park)

There are so many different activities as shown above! Everyone can find something fun to do out on this massive grass park. It is also one of the most beautiful places to play a fun activity with the Oceanside view!

Although there are a lot of fun features and activities to do at Boulevard park it is not all a walk in the park. There are a few things that many people find annoying about the park. Adam, who I interviewed says, “It is a very nice place to come to on a sunny day, but that makes it crowded and hard to find a parking spot. This makes me not want to come here on a really nice day because I do not want to park far away to come to the park” (Adam Barker interview). This is a struggle for many people who come to the park on a nice day. The parking is free, unlike some parks around the area. However, there is not much parking around the park, which leads to a lot of frustrated people.

Another aspect of the park that is not ideal is that the beaches are very rocky and abrupt (Boulevard Park Whatcom County). This is not ideal especially in the warm summer months when most people would like to hang out at a park with a nice beach. The park would be much nicer if people were able to go down to the beach and enjoy playing on the beach. The waterfront is very beautiful, but it is not very useful because park visitors cannot utilize the water or the beach.

Boulevard Park is a wonderful park and is one of the most visited in the area. It is not without rivals though. Lake Padden Park, located 4 miles in land from Boulevard Park has many similarities. Lake Padden Park is located right on Lake Padden and has beautiful lake views and walking trials, it also has a big dock that park visitors can walk out onto (Lake Padden Park). However, Boulevard Park is much bigger and has a much better atmosphere with many different groups of people.

(Lake Padden Park)

Above shows the dock at Lake Padden Park

There is a reason Boulevard Park always has an abundance of people, it is because the park is magnificent! There seems to never be a dull moment on a sunny day looking out at the scenery of Bellingham Bay. Although surrounding parks have similar attributes to Boulevard Park the location of this park makes it the first place that comes to mind when thinking of a day at the park.

There are so many things that make Boulevard Park. Everyone who comes seems to have a great time, so next time come see what everyone is talking about. Come take a walk down the boardwalk as the sun goes down or grab some friends for a picnic and a game of Frisbee. This park is full of energy and will certainly bring smiles to everyone who comes.

Works cited for review

“Adam Barker Interview.” Personal interview. 8 Feb. 2016

“Bellingham’s Boulevard Park by ExplorationsNorthwest.com.” YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUkJcuHPG6o>.

“Boulevard Park.” Foursquare. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016

“Bellingham Parks — Boulevard Park.” ActiveRain. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.

Boulevard Park.” Whatcom County. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.

Lake Padden Park.” Whatcom County. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.

Interview Adam Barker 2/8/2016

What do you see the big grassy area used most for?

“The grassy field is always hectic, but it seems most times I come here there is either an ultimate Frisbee game going on or kids tossing the Frisbee back and forth with each other”

How has the park changed since you first started coming her?

Well most obvious is the Boardwalk area which was made a few years ago, but I think more than anything just the type of people that come to the park. There seems to be younger people and students that flow to the park. There has always been families and older couples coming to the park, but it feels like as the college grows the younger the park crowd gets.

What is your least favorite aspect about the park?

It is a very nice place to come to on a sunny day, but that makes it crowded and hard to find a parking spot. This makes me not want to come here on a really nice day because I do not want to park far away to come to the park

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