Out in the South Fork Valley, where Van Zandt sits between Acme and Deming, Josh VanderYacht Memorial Park does a lot with a little. It tucks in behind the Van Zandt Community Center and gives the rural neighborhood a real spot to gather: basketball, pickleball and handball courts, horseshoe pits, a playground and picnic areas, all in one compact footprint. This isn’t a destination park you drive across the county for. It’s the kind of place that matters most if you live nearby or you’re already out exploring the Mount Baker Highway corridor and want somewhere for the kids to burn energy. There’s parking and a restroom on site, which is more than a lot of small rural parks offer.

What you’ll find

The park bundles several hard-court sports into a small area: a basketball court, a handball court, and pickleball courts (the county lists pickleball here but doesn’t publish a court count, so call ahead if you’re planning a group session). Add horseshoe pits, a playground for younger kids, and picnic areas, and you’ve got a genuine little community hub. There are restrooms and a parking lot on site. It sits right behind the Van Zandt Community Center, so the two function as a pair: events and meetings inside, recreation outside. The setting is quiet, rural and ringed by the forest and farmland of the South Fork Nooksack drainage.

Good for

Families in the Van Zandt, Acme and Deming area, and anyone who wants a casual pickleball or basketball game without driving into Bellingham. The horseshoe pits and picnic areas make it a fair choice for a small family get-together or a community-center event spillover. It’s also a reasonable leg-stretch and bathroom stop if you’re heading up the Mount Baker Highway toward the mountains. Note it isn’t listed as wheelchair-accessible, so factor that in.

Getting there

The park is in Van Zandt, in the South Fork Valley southeast of Deming. From Bellingham, take Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) east to Deming, then head south on SR 9 toward Acme; Van Zandt sits along that stretch. You’ll find it behind the Van Zandt Community Center, with a parking lot on site. It’s well off the main tourist track, so expect a rural drive and quiet roads.

A local broker’s take

I don’t get many buyers asking specifically about Van Zandt, but the South Fork Valley draws people who want acreage, privacy and a slower pace within striking distance of Bellingham. A park like this is a small signal that the area isn’t just scattered houses: there’s a community center, a place for kids to play, somewhere neighbors run into each other. If you’re weighing a rural property down SR 9, it’s worth knowing the trade-off honestly: you get space and quiet, but you’re a real drive from groceries, schools and the hospital. Amenities like this soften that, a little.

Good to know

Does Josh VanderYacht Memorial Park have pickleball courts?

Yes. The county lists pickleball at the park, but it doesn’t publish how many courts there are. If you’re organizing a group, it’s worth confirming the count and availability before you go.

Are there restrooms and parking?

Yes, the park has restrooms and a parking lot on site, alongside the Van Zandt Community Center.

Where exactly is the park?

It’s in Van Zandt, in the South Fork Nooksack Valley southeast of Deming, behind the Van Zandt Community Center. From Bellingham it’s roughly a 30-minute drive via SR 542 and SR 9.