Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee

The Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee held a productive meeting focused primarily on the Parks Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update and community engagement results. The committee received a comprehensive presentation on survey results from over 2,000 community respondents, representing the largest parks survey response in the city's history. Key findings showed strong public support for maintaining existing facilities, developing trails, acquiring open space, and addressing safety concerns in parks. The meeting also addressed planning for the annual report to City Council scheduled for April 21st, highlighting 2024 accomplishments including three property acquisitions (DNR Purchase, Newland Purchase, and Robinson donation), various development projects, and the successful generation of $9.3 million in Greenways levy revenue. Staff announced the upcoming closure of the Sandwich Crest property purchase, marking a significant milestone after years of planning. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the PROS Plan's inventory and assessment phase, with staff presenting a comprehensive approach to analyzing city parks and recreation needs through five geographic zones rather than the traditional 26 neighborhoods. This shift aims to create more practical geographic boundaries based on physical barriers like Interstate 5. The committee also discussed coordination with Whatcom County's comprehensive plan update to ensure trail connectivity across jurisdictions. Two committee positions remain vacant following departures, with three applicants being processed for the two open seats, though filling them may be delayed due to transitions in the mayor's office.

- **February Meeting Minutes Approval:** Passed 6-0 with one amendment noting a member's intent to reapply for the committee - **Geographic Rezoning for PROS Plan:** Staff presented new approach dividing city into 5 zones instead of 26 neighborhoods for analysis purposes - **Survey Methodology Acceptance:** Committee accepted results from 2,000+ respondent community survey with 78% completion rate - **Annual Report Timeline:** Confirmed April meeting for draft review and April 21st City Council presentation date

**Peter, on survey demographics:** "Bellingham's, according to the census, is about 79% white. So we were a little under benchmarking on the on the different racial and ethnicity side of things. So we need to do more on that side." **David Stalheim, on Growth Management Act requirements:** "The way you can require that for development is to be in the GMA plan." **Peter, on maintenance priorities:** "Maybe they're just wanting to make sure that the parks are protected from encampments and stuff like that, you know it could be." **David Stalheim, on climate resilience:** "Part of the climate resilience is the idea of having urban community forests. It's not only to cool the urban area, but it's also a place for people to get out of the heat in our community." **Daniel Probst, on regional coordination:** "It would be good to reference what happens with the county's plan so that it can overlap with planning for the PROS." **Peter, on lighting challenges:** "Historically been quite a bit of like vandalism associated with lighting. And so it just turns into kind of a maintenance headache."

# Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee Navigates Major Planning Initiatives The Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee convened for their March meeting on Thursday evening, tackling substantial updates on the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan development and preparing for their annual report to City Council. With nearly 2,000 survey responses and successful public engagement events behind them, the committee is now positioned to help shape the city's recreational future over the next two decades. ## Meeting Overview Six committee members gathered at 7:20 PM for what Chair Peter described as "a short agenda," though the evening proved anything but brief as they delved into comprehensive survey data and planning processes. The meeting welcomed Daniel Probst during public comment and featured extensive discussion of community input gathered through recent public outreach efforts. Notably, the committee continues to operate with two vacant positions formerly held by Scott and Kate, with three applicants currently under consideration by the mayor's office. ## Sandwich Crest Property Acquisition Moves Forward The meeting opened with exciting news about a long-awaited land acquisition. "The Sandwich crest property closes tomorrow," announced Peter, noting that "the check is delivered to the escrow company. So everything is moving forward as planned couple of years later. But it is happening." This acquisition represents a significant milestone for the Greenways program, adding to the city's protected open space network after years of planning and preparation. ## Trail Connectivity and County Coordination Daniel Probst, project lead for the Bellingham Mount Baker Trail, used his public comment time to highlight an important coordination opportunity. He noted that while the city works through its PROS plan update, "the county is also going through their whole comprehensive plan update, which is, which includes their comprehensive chapter 9, recreation which actually be changed to parks, recreation." Probst emphasized the interconnected nature of regional trail systems, explaining that county plan changes "might have changes to some of the major trails that run through Bellingham... not only my trail, but maybe the Beta Baker trail, and because Millennium trail some of those other trails." He suggested that the city's planning process "reference what happens with the county's plan so that it can overlap with planning for the purpose," proposing "something like a math that highlights the trail corridors that run through the county." ## Annual Report Planning Begins The committee began preliminary discussions about their 2024 annual report, scheduled for presentation to City Council on April 21st. Peter outlined major accomplishments to highlight, including three significant property acquisitions: the DNR purchase, the Newland purchase, and the Robinson donation. Development projects featured prominently as well, with construction work on the pier and Hundred Acre Wood, design work at Boulevard Park, and the new community garden at Van Wyck. "Last year the Greenways levy brought in 9.3 million, which is what we estimated once the new assessments we're in," Peter reported, noting that revenue projections had proven accurate. The program also expanded staffing, including a new stewardship and community gardens position. The committee will receive a draft report at their April meeting for review before the Council presentation. Committee members were encouraged to submit suggestions via email ahead of that meeting to allow incorporation into the draft. ## PROS Plan Survey Reveals Community Priorities The heart of the meeting centered on extensive survey results from the PROS plan development process. With approximately 2,000 responses and a 78% completion rate, the community survey represented the largest parks-focused public input effort in city history. Peter acknowledged the survey's breadth: "it was not a short survey," but praised residents' engagement in completing the comprehensive questionnaire. The survey employed multiple distribution channels, including Facebook and Instagram posts with paid boosting to reach beyond regular followers, the parks department newsletter reaching over 4,000-5,000 people, the Inside Bellingham Newsletter, and the Bellingham Plan mailing list. Park volunteer networks also helped spread the word, contributing to the robust response rate. ### Demographics and Representation Challenges Survey demographics revealed both successes and areas for improvement in community outreach. The largest age group was 35-44 year-olds, with limited participation from 18-24 year-olds. Women comprised the majority of respondents at approximately 58%, with men at 40% and other gender identities at 2%. Race and ethnicity data highlighted significant representation gaps. While 87% of respondents identified as white, compared to Bellingham's census figure of 79% white population, the survey particularly underrepresented Hispanic/Latino residents at only 2.5% versus the city's 9% Hispanic/Latino population. Peter noted efforts to address this gap: "we do have a couple of events with vamos. The Spanish speaking recreation nonprofit that we're hoping will help us get that out." These efforts connect to a Department of Commerce grant received by Vamos for Latino community outreach on comprehensive planning, with three workshops and an activity day scheduled for April 5th. ### Community Priorities Emerge The survey revealed clear community priorities for parks and recreation investment. When asked about budget priorities, maintaining existing parks, facilities and trails ranked first, followed by developing new trails and connecting parks. Acquiring additional parks and open space property came third, with planning and building indoor recreation facilities fourth. Committee member David noted an interesting pattern in the ranking methodology: "if you could go back to the slide... it looks like you rank them based on cumulative scores. But one of the things that's a little bit interesting is the number of people that did planning, building indoor recreation facilities is the number kind of fell off. So there's a lot of support that being number one is actually the number 2 in terms of 1st choice of everybody type of thing." Peter explained the cumulative ranking approach as providing "a better idea overall" of community preferences, while acknowledging that straight first-choice rankings could tell a different story. ### Safety, Maintenance, and Natural Systems Score High When rating potential goals for the next twenty years, survey respondents showed strong support for several key areas. "Foster a sense of safety within the park system... scored very high," Peter reported, along with "preserve diverse habitats... and steward natural systems scored very high." The goal to "interconnect the city park and open spaces scored very high" as well, directly relating to the Greenways Committee's mission. Perhaps most surprisingly, "manage Bellingham's Parkland facilities and programs efficiently and effectively scored very high as well, actually the highest, which is a little surprising, because maintenance isn't usually a very interesting thing to people." Peter speculated this might reflect community concerns about park conditions and encampment issues. ### Facility Usage and Future Needs The survey tracked which park features residents had used in the past year, revealing strong preferences for water-related amenities. "Trails and beaches, waterfront open space. Anything connected to the water scores very high," Peter observed. The top tier included trails, beaches, waterfront areas, and general open space, followed by more specific facilities like playgrounds, mountain bike trails, picnic shelters, pump tracks, and off-leash dog areas. At the bottom of usage statistics was pickleball courts, prompting surprised reactions from committee members. Peter explained that highly specific recreational facilities naturally receive fewer responses "because it's very group specific focus area." For future development needs over the next 5-10 years, "forested parks" topped the list, followed by improved/expanded aquatic center facilities and indoor recreation centers. Natural or limestone trails ranked fourth, with street trees surprisingly placing fifth. Peter found it "interesting that that guy got rates so high as far as most important needs in the next 5 to 10 years." Committee member Ray Dellecker raised concerns about hockey facilities: "I didn't see anything on there about hockey, and it seemed to me we've had lots of input from the hockey community that we need more ice." Peter acknowledged this as "a good point" and "may have been an oversight," noting that hockey or ice rink facilities "probably should have been pulled out as a separate deal" rather than grouped under general indoor recreation. ### Barriers to Usage and Satisfaction Levels When asked about improvements that would increase park usage, year-round restrooms topped the list, followed by better lighting and improved safety/security measures. Better condition of parks, facilities, trails, and street trees ranked highly, along with improved communication about recreational offerings. The survey revealed mixed feelings about current services. Residents expressed least satisfaction with the aquatic center and indoor recreation facilities, "not a big surprise there," Peter noted. However, strong agreement emerged around feeling safe in parks during open hours, though trail safety during evening hours scored lower. One concerning finding was weak agreement with the statement about park rule enforcement. Peter observed that "people don't feel that we do a very good job enforcing our park rules," which could relate to issues with bike speeds, leash requirements, noise levels, and after-hours activities. ## Successful Public Engagement Events The PROS plan development included two public open houses in February, drawing approximately 80-85 community members. Counter to expectations, the Cordata location attracted more attendees than Fairhaven. Peter described these as "very intro type" meetings covering "what is the pro plan? Why is it important? How is it used? And how can you be involved?" The events featured interactive elements including posters where residents could share their favorite places, preferred park uses, desired playground improvements, and general suggestions. A straw poll on twenty-year goals provided immediate feedback that largely aligned with later survey results. Committee members who attended praised the format. One noted: "the open houses were cool, for the one that I attended was cool... very interactive, and had nice visuals of playgrounds and ideas. And let the community kind of give their input input visually on boards." ## Geographic Analysis Approach Moving beyond citywide data, the planning team developed a new geographic framework dividing Bellingham into five districts rather than the traditional 26 neighborhoods. This approach uses "physical barriers instead of kind of this sometimes just artificial line," Peter explained. The five zones are: - Central and South Bay: west of Interstate 5 - Samish: including Padden through Puget neighborhood, Watkin Falls, and Geneva, south of Lakeway Drive - Whatcom: east of I-5, north of Lakeway, south of Mount Baker Highway - North: Cordata, Meridian, King Mountain, and Iron Gate neighborhoods north of both the Interstate and Mount Baker Highway - A fifth zone encompassing remaining areas This geographic breakdown will inform both survey analysis and future project recommendations, helping ensure equitable distribution of parks and recreation facilities across the city. ## Comprehensive Inventory and Analysis Framework Peter outlined an extensive data collection and analysis framework supporting the PROS plan development. The approach encompasses three major categories: background information, level of service analysis, and basic inventory requirements. Background research includes current population data and 20-year projections, demographic analysis, recreation trends at local, regional, and national levels, staffing patterns over time, and revenue trends spanning at least ten years. The team will also incorporate bike and pedestrian route master plans and operations/maintenance work order analysis to understand resource allocation patterns. Service and needs assessment will feature a "walk model" ensuring residents have park access within a ten-minute walk, social vulnerability index analysis connecting to previous trails prioritization work, and integration of both the current community survey and the 2023 recreational needs assessment. The inventory component encompasses parks counts and acreage, trail mileage, recreational facilities including ball fields, courts, playgrounds, and indoor facilities, plus partner facilities from organizations like the YMCA and Bellingham School District that offer public access. New elements include updated tree canopy cover mapping for the entire urban growth area, comprehensive open space mapping incorporating habitat data and existing greenway corridors, and trend analysis of reservable facilities, events, team sports, and recreational classes. ## Trails Mapping Timeline and Coordination Committee member David Stalheim raised important questions about trails mapping timeline, noting that "the Greenways Committee is supposed to focus in on trails, and the Prab board is going to focus really on the overall pros plan. When are we gonna start talking about the trails map? Because time's ticking here." Peter indicated trails mapping discussions would likely begin "probably not April, but may as we kind of move into more of the pros plan section... the more the functional plan." He assured the committee they would "have the rest of the year basically to work through that, maybe not the whole year, but at least into the fall." This timeline initially concerned David, who worried about Growth Management Act compliance: "saying, the trails map is gonna be in the Pros plan and not in the Gma plan is a major concern to me, because the way you can require that for development is to be in the Gma plan." Peter clarified that existing PROS plan references would remain in the GMA plan until the updated version is adopted, addressing David's regulatory concerns. The trails mapping process will incorporate existing bike and pedestrian master plan data, though Peter noted challenges: "we don't really have that data in the Gis yet... it came from the consultant, and it wasn't built the way we wanted it to. So public works has been working on it for a while." Once this data is properly integrated, the committee will work with "a nice working map" to identify gaps and ensure comprehensive coverage. Peter emphasized the importance of road crossings and different trail design standards based on location: "Is it being built in a park? Is it being built in pretty urbanized area? Is it being built out in a pretty far out open space. Greenway kind of thing with low usage?" ## Professional Support and County Coordination The city has selected Cascadia Partners to provide communications, outreach, and technical research support for the PROS plan development. Though contracts weren't yet signed at meeting time, Peter anticipated having "a signed contract and assistance in terms of doing that outreach... by the next meeting." Coordination with Whatcom County has already begun, with Peter noting "we met with county parks couple of weeks ago" to ensure alignment between jurisdictions. This coordination addresses Daniel Probst's earlier public comment concerns about regional trail connectivity. ## Looking Ahead The committee faces an active spring schedule. April will bring the draft annual report for review ahead of the April 21st City Council presentation. The same month features the Vamos community workshops on April 5th targeting Latino community engagement. May should deliver draft PROS plan goals and policies plus initial inventory results, with a complete draft chapter expected by May. Two committee positions remain unfilled, with three applicants currently under mayoral review. The transition in the mayor's office has slowed the appointment process, but Peter estimated new members might join by April or May, pending administrative capacity. The evening concluded just after 8:18 PM with Peter thanking committee members for their patience through the data-heavy presentation. Despite billing it as a short agenda, the meeting demonstrated the substantial analytical work underlying effective parks and recreation planning, setting the stage for more detailed policy discussions in coming months. As Bellingham moves toward updating its foundational parks planning document, the Greenways Advisory Committee finds itself at the center of community conversations about recreation priorities, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to natural spaces. The extensive survey data and public input gathered through winter and early spring provide a solid foundation for the detailed trail mapping and policy development work ahead.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-GRN-2025-03-06 ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Greenways Advisory Committee met on March 6, 2025, to discuss their annual report planning and receive an extensive briefing on community survey results and open house feedback for the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update. The committee also learned about the comprehensive inventory and assessment process that will guide the city's parks planning for the next 20 years. ### Key Terms and Concepts **PROS Plan:** Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a 20-year comprehensive planning document required by the state that guides how Bellingham develops, maintains, and operates its parks system. **Greenways Levy:** A voter-approved funding mechanism that generated $9.3 million in 2024 for park acquisition, development, stewardship, and community gardens in Bellingham. **Level of Service:** A planning metric used to measure how well parks and recreation facilities serve the community, often calculated as acres of parkland per 1,000 residents or accessibility within a 10-minute walk. **Social Vulnerability Index:** A demographic analysis tool that identifies communities with higher needs for services and infrastructure, used in this context to ensure equitable distribution of parks and trails. **Walk Model:** A GIS-based analysis that maps how accessible parks and trails are to residents on foot, ensuring people can reach green space within a reasonable walking distance. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** State legislation that requires cities to plan for population growth while protecting natural resources, which influences how trail maps and park requirements are incorporated into development rules. **Urban Growth Area:** The designated boundary around Bellingham where urban development is planned to occur over the next 20 years. **Tree Canopy Cover:** The percentage of land area covered by tree crowns, an important metric for urban forestry and climate resilience planning. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Peter | Parks Department Staff/Meeting Facilitator | | Daniel Probst | Community Member, Project Lead for Bellingham Mount Baker Trail | | Ray Dellecker | Greenways Committee Member (attending online) | | David Stalheim | Greenways Committee Member (attending online) | | Dina | Greenways Committee Applicant | | Kate | Referenced former committee member | | Scott | Referenced former committee member | ### Background Context The Greenways Advisory Committee is tasked with advising on trail development and connectivity while the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board focuses on the broader PROS Plan. This division of labor emerged from recent organizational changes to streamline the planning process. The city is simultaneously updating both its PROS Plan (every 6 years) and participating in Whatcom County's comprehensive plan update, creating opportunities for better regional coordination on trail systems. The community survey received an unprecedented 2,000 responses, indicating high public interest in parks planning. However, demographic analysis revealed gaps in Latino community participation (2.5% vs. 9% of city population), leading to partnership with Vamos for targeted outreach. The timing is critical because trail maps must be properly referenced in planning documents to have regulatory force for new development. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began with an update that the long-awaited Sandwich Crest property purchase will close the next day, completing a multi-year acquisition process. Staff reported that two vacant committee positions have three applicants and should be filled by April or May. A community member urged coordination between the city's PROS Plan update and the county's comprehensive plan update to ensure trail planning aligns across jurisdictions. The bulk of the meeting focused on reviewing results from community outreach. Two open houses in February drew about 80-85 people total, with interactive activities allowing residents to share priorities. A comprehensive community survey received about 2,000 responses - more than any previous parks survey. Key findings included strong support for maintaining existing facilities, developing new trail connections, and addressing safety concerns. People ranked forested parks and improved aquatic facilities as top development priorities. Staff outlined an ambitious inventory process that will analyze everything from playground equipment to tree canopy coverage across five geographic zones rather than the traditional 26 neighborhoods. This data will inform recommendations for the next 20 years of parks development. The committee will review draft goals and policies at the April meeting, with a complete draft chapter expected in May. ### What to Watch Next - April meeting will feature draft goals and policies for the PROS Plan, plus initial inventory results - May meeting should include a complete draft chapter to review - April 21 City Council meeting will receive the annual Greenways report - April 5 community workshop with Vamos to engage Latino residents in the planning process ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** BEL-GRN-2025-03-06 **Q:** How much money did the Greenways levy generate in 2024? **A:** $9.3 million, which matched staff projections once new assessments were implemented. **Q:** How many people responded to the PROS Plan community survey? **A:** About 2,000 people, more than any previous parks survey, with a 78% completion rate. **Q:** What property acquisition closes the day after this meeting? **A:** The Sandwich Crest property, completing a multi-year acquisition process. **Q:** What were the top three budget priorities according to survey respondents? **A:** 1) Maintaining existing parks, facilities and trails, 2) Developing new trails and connecting parks, 3) Acquiring additional parks and open space property. **Q:** What was the most important goal according to the community survey? **A:** Foster a sense of safety within the park system scored the highest in importance. **Q:** How is the city dividing Bellingham for parks planning analysis? **A:** Into 5 geographic districts or zones based on physical barriers like Interstate 5, rather than the traditional 26 neighborhoods. **Q:** What demographic group was significantly underrepresented in the survey? **A:** Hispanic/Latino residents at 2.5% participation versus 9% of the city's actual population. **Q:** Who is the project lead for the Bellingham Mount Baker Trail? **A:** Daniel Probst, who urged coordination between city and county planning processes. **Q:** What consultant was selected to help with PROS Plan communications and outreach? **A:** Cascadia Partners, though their contract wasn't signed yet at the time of this meeting. **Q:** What were the top two most-used park features according to the survey? **A:** Trails and beaches/waterfront, with anything connected to water scoring very high. **Q:** When will the Greenways annual report be presented to City Council? **A:** April 21st, with a draft available at the April committee meeting. **Q:** How many committee positions are currently vacant? **A:** Two positions (Scott's and Kate's seats) with three applicants for the openings. **Q:** What was surprising about maintenance in the survey results? **A:** "Manage Bellingham's parkland facilities and programs efficiently and effectively" scored as the highest priority, which staff found surprising since maintenance isn't usually very interesting to the public. **Q:** What specific safety issue did survey respondents indicate? **A:** People don't feel the city does a very good job enforcing park rules, and other people's behavior in parks detracts from their enjoyment. **Q:** What was the most requested new development type? **A:** Forested parks ranked as the number one most important need for new development in the next 5-10 years. **Q:** What organization is helping with Latino community outreach? **A:** Vamos, a Spanish-speaking recreation nonprofit that received a Department of Commerce grant. **Q:** When does staff expect to have draft goals and policies ready? **A:** At the next meeting in April, with a full draft chapter expected in May. **Q:** What major infrastructure projects were highlighted as 2024 Greenways accomplishments? **A:** Construction work on the pier, construction in 100 Acre Wood, design work on Boulevard Park, a new community garden at Van Wick, and Bloedel Donovan energy efficiency upgrades. **Q:** Why is it expensive to add lighting to trails? **A:** Electricity typically has to be run underground, plus there are ongoing maintenance issues with vandalism and neighbor complaints about light pollution. **Q:** What planning document ensures trail requirements can be enforced for new development? **A:** The Growth Management Act (GMA) plan, though the PROS Plan will be referenced until it's updated. ---