Bay Horizon Park is a 68-acre county park in Birch Bay, built on the grounds of a former Air Force station, which gives it an unusual amount of open space for the area. It is a flexible, multi-use park: there is a playground, a basketball court and an outdoor pickleball court, along with broad open fields and a community activity center that hosts programs and events. There is parking on site, though no listed restrooms, so plan around that. This is a practical neighborhood and community park for Birch Bay, with enough room for field sports, casual court games and large gatherings. Its size and the activity center make it more of a community hub than a typical small park.

What you’ll find

Bay Horizon makes good use of its 68 acres. There is a playground for kids, a basketball court and a single outdoor pickleball court for casual games, plus wide open fields that handle soccer, frisbee and general play with room to spare. The community activity center on site is a real differentiator, giving the park an indoor component for programs, classes and events. Parking is available. The main thing to plan around is restrooms, which are not listed for the park, so come prepared. The former-Air-Force-station setting means this is a flat, spacious, open park rather than a wooded or waterfront one, well suited to organized field use and big groups.

Good for

Families, casual basketball and pickleball, field sports that need open space, and community gatherings tied to the activity center. The amount of open ground makes it a good fit for groups, practices and events, which is part of how Birch Bay uses it. With one pickleball court, it suits a casual game rather than a dedicated pickleball outing, so set expectations there. The lack of listed restrooms is worth planning for, especially with kids or a longer visit. For waterfront and beach time, Birch Bay’s shoreline and the nearby coastal parks are the draw, while Bay Horizon covers the fields-and-courts side of recreation.

A local broker’s take

Birch Bay is one of the most interesting markets I work in, a mix of vacation properties, retirees and year-round families drawn to the beach-town feel and the value compared to Bellingham. A park like Bay Horizon, with its open fields, courts and community activity center, is an important piece of the year-round side of Birch Bay, the part beyond the seasonal waterfront. When I show homes here, I make sure buyers see both sides: the beach and the community amenities like this park. If Birch Bay is on your list, whether for a getaway or a primary home, I can walk you through what the area offers and how the market works.

Good to know

Does Bay Horizon Park have a pickleball court?

Yes, the park has one outdoor pickleball court, along with a basketball court, a playground and open fields. With a single court, it is better suited to a casual game than a dedicated pickleball outing.

What is the activity center at Bay Horizon Park?

It is a community activity center on the park grounds that hosts programs and events, giving this 68-acre Birch Bay park an indoor component. The park sits on a former Air Force station, which is why it has so much open space.