Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board convened for a comprehensive meeting covering major planning initiatives, survey results, and project updates. The session featured extensive presentation of PROS (Parks, Recreation & Open Space) Plan survey findings, with over 2,000 community responses providing detailed feedback on park usage, satisfaction levels, and future priorities. The board also reviewed location options for the 1% art component at Storybrook Park, updates to the landmark tree ordinance, and significant infrastructure projects in the King Mountain and Bakerview neighborhoods. A key highlight was the introduction of new board member Darren Belt, who brings advocacy experience for youth sports. The meeting demonstrated the board's commitment to data-driven planning, with Peter Willott presenting detailed survey analysis that will inform the PROS Plan's goals and policies. The survey revealed strong community support for trail connectivity, aquatic facility expansion, and year-round restrooms, while also highlighting demographic gaps in outreach to younger residents and Hispanic/Latino populations. The board postponed decision-making on the Storybrook Park art location to allow for field visits, showing their preference for hands-on evaluation of proposals. Staff updates included progress on the Carl Kozier school boundary negotiations, budget challenges facing the general fund, and upcoming opening of the Little Squalicum Pier. The meeting reflected the ongoing balance between community aspirations for enhanced recreation facilities and fiscal constraints requiring careful prioritization.

**Storybrook Park 1% Art Location Decision - Postponed** - No formal vote taken; board requested field visit before deciding between Location A and Location B - Staff preference for Location A noted due to accessibility and food forest compatibility - Artist contract pending, with premium services contractor to handle installation pad **PROS Plan Survey Results - Accepted for Planning Use** - 2,000+ responses accepted as basis for developing goals and policies - Survey findings to guide phase two outreach targeting underrepresented demographics - Consultant hired to provide additional analysis by neighborhood zones **Meeting Minutes Approval - Passed Unanimously** - Previous month's minutes approved without changes - Motion by Steve Walker, seconded, all in favor **Landmark Tree Ordinance Updates - Informational Only** - February 24th public hearing changes noted for board awareness - Full Type 6 evaluation scheduled for six-month review process

**Lane Covington, on budget challenges:** "It's a little bit of a dichotomy to go out to the community and talk about what do you want in the future from your park department when we're in this general fund crisis, but our other funds are healthy." **Peter Willott, on survey participation:** "We got about 87% white. We underperformed on the Hispanic Latino population. They represent about 9% of Bellingham and we got about 3%. So we have to address that." **Jonathan Middleton, on art installation placement:** "I like location A personally because as you're approaching it, it slowly reveals itself as you progress through the landscape." **Steve Walker, on art aesthetics:** "It would be nice to have the background be a natural landscape as opposed to looking into somebody's yard." **Lane Covington, on Little Squalicum Pier opening:** "Little Squalicum Pier has been a goal of this community to make available for the public since the 90s. It's a long-standing legacy project." **Board Member, on park overcrowding safety:** "When parks are overcrowded, then if not everyone is collectively saying, hey, maybe we should limit who's all doing what at the same time, it can be a safety issue." **Lane Covington, on Greenways funding:** "Greenways has been our absolute savior. It's been our lifeboat. It's been the funding mechanism for almost all of the new positions in the last probably 15 to 20 years in parks." **Peter Willott, on survey methodology:** "We blasted people with emails and we paid for Instagram posts to try to pull in people that aren't subscribers."

## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board convened on March 12, 2025, at City Hall, though the meeting was briefly interrupted by a power outage. Board members present included longtime members Steve Walker and Ray Dellecker, along with newcomer Darren Belt, who introduced himself as a youth sports advocate from Kansas City. The board tackled three major items: the location selection for Story Brook Park's public art installation, updates on the landmark tree program, and a comprehensive presentation on the Parks and Recreation Opportunities Study (PROS) plan survey results. The meeting demonstrated the board's commitment to both preserving Bellingham's natural character while accommodating growth, with discussions ranging from artwork placement to tree protection ordinances to future recreation needs based on extensive community input. ## Story Brook Park Art Location Decision Board member Jonathan Hopkins presented two potential locations for a 1% for Art sculpture installation at the 5.7-acre Story Brook Park in North Bellingham. The interactive artwork—a semicircle of 10-11 foot tall logs with reflective surfaces—required careful placement due to the site's numerous wetlands and critical areas. "Location A would be located in this kind of a condition where it's relatively open, but it's also has some shade associated with it," Hopkins explained, noting that the park master plan had identified this area as a future food forest. "Because of the shade that's cast by these trees, it's probably less productive for growing food for a future phase." Steve Walker, participating online, raised aesthetic concerns: "My concern about these locations is just that as you're viewing the art, you see construction in the background, you know, like the residences, and I don't know, there just seems like a piece of art. It would be nice to have the background be a natural landscape as opposed to looking into somebody's yard." Hopkins acknowledged the backdrop challenges but noted that both proposed locations had "the least problem as far as that goes." He explained that wetland boundaries and accessibility requirements severely limited placement options, as the artwork needed wheelchair access and connection to approved trail systems. Board member Scott Pratschner suggested the potential for celestial alignment: "It seems like it should be aligned with something with the sun, yeah, so like on the equinox or something." Hopkins confirmed they hadn't determined the orientation yet but would work with the artist on incorporating seasonal light patterns. Concerns about light reflection affecting nearby residents prompted Hopkins to assure that "the angles are pretty severe" and mostly face inward. However, he agreed to stake the locations on-site for board members to visit before the next meeting. Rather than rushing the decision, the board agreed to postpone the location choice to allow for site visits. As Hopkins noted, "We have plenty of time" and "the artwork will go wherever it needs to go." ## Landmark Tree Program Updates Hopkins provided updates on recent changes to Bellingham's landmark tree ordinance, describing it as "a pretty significant new regulation at the city that protects the big trees, and it's caused some consternation." The February 24 public hearing resulted in several clarifying amendments. Key changes included eliminating the ability to nominate trees on other people's property—"That was one thing that did not sit well with many people"—and clarifying definitions of certified arborist, critical root zone, and multi-trunk tree groves that previously created confusion. The ordinance also added intention statements balancing tree protection with urban density goals: "Sometimes you can move a development around and maybe save one, but maybe you can't save all of the landmark trees and build anything. So it's like, which one is the best one?" Perhaps most significantly, the replacement ratio changed from the previous requirement of "one replacement tree per inch of diameter." For a 36-inch tree, this meant 18 replacement trees. "Well, nobody had room for 18 replacement trees on their property where they were taking out the one 36-incher," Hopkins noted, which led many property owners to ask the parks department to plant trees on public land. The current changes are interim measures while staff conducts a full Type 6 evaluation over the next six months, which will examine street tree processing, clearing and grading regulations, and all development code references to trees. Hopkins concluded: "Trees have replaced parking as the most important thing, which I like." ## PROS Plan Survey Results and Community Engagement Peter Hamlin presented comprehensive results from the Parks and Recreation Opportunities Study community survey, which garnered over 2,000 responses—"really good for one survey." The survey achieved a 78% completion rate despite taking at least 15 minutes for most respondents. ### Demographics and Participation Gaps The survey revealed participation gaps requiring attention in future outreach. The 14-24 age group was underrepresented, Hispanic/Latino residents comprised only 2.5-3% of responses compared to their 9% share of Bellingham's population, and male participation reached only 39%. "We underperformed on getting all the age groups. So the 14 to 24 age group, we did not do a good enough job getting to those folks," Hamlin acknowledged. To address this, staff planned graduation ceremony outreach and technical college engagement. ### Current Usage Patterns and Transportation Steve Walker questioned survey results showing most people drive to parks: "The majority of people responded that they drove, which I thought was a little problematic given that we've as an agency have tried to get parks close to where people live." Hamlin explained this reflects current reality: "Most people end up driving to parks," particularly to heavily visited destinations like Civic Stadium and Boulevard Park. However, he noted that combining walking and biking responses showed 40% of people use non-automotive transportation—"that really isn't that bad." ### Facility Usage and Satisfaction Trails emerged as the most frequently used park facility, followed by beaches and waterfront areas, open spaces, piers and docks, and freshwater beaches. More specialized amenities like mountain bike trails, pump tracks, and dog off-leash areas formed a second tier of usage. The survey revealed satisfaction gaps primarily in aquatic centers and indoor recreation facilities. "We need expanded aquatics and more indoor rec space," Hamlin noted, consistent with previous recreation needs assessments. Restrooms emerged as a major concern, with year-round restroom availability ranking as the top improvement need. "Year-round restrooms got by far the most votes," Hamlin reported, followed by better lighting and improved safety and security. ### Safety Perceptions on Trails Safety concerns appeared primarily on specific trail segments. While most respondents felt safe in parks during open hours, trail safety during evenings received more mixed responses. "I would bet if you broke it down, there's like two trails where people don't feel safe, and then 99% of them they do, but the two are so bad that they stand out," Hamlin observed. The Nora's/Yorya Trail was specifically identified as problematic due to "people experiencing homelessness and drugs there regularly." ### Future Development Priorities Survey respondents prioritized forested parks as the top need for new development, followed by improved or expanded aquatic centers and indoor recreation centers. Natural limestone trails, street trees, swimming beaches, and new open space rounded out the top priorities. The emphasis on maintaining existing facilities impressed board members. As one noted: "The number one thing that people want that is most important is maintaining our existing facilities. That's what we should be spending the money on, and I thought that was pretty awesome to hear." ### Goals and Policy Direction Four goals emerged as highest priority from community input: 1. Support health, wellness, and play with recreation facilities and programs 2. Interconnect the city's parks and open spaces with trails, greenways, and multimodal street facilities 3. Provide high quality facilities and services that are accessible and inclusive 4. Ensure that parks and trails are equitably distributed The survey revealed strong support for fostering safety within the park system, preserving diverse habitats, and managing existing parkland facilities and programs effectively. ## King Mountain and Bakerview Infrastructure Projects Hopkins briefed the board on major infrastructure improvements serving the King Mountain and Bakerview neighborhoods, following his presentation to the King Mountain Neighborhood Association. The projects address connectivity challenges in what Hopkins described as "a bit of a trail desert." ### James Street Roundabout and Multimodal Path Construction begins at month's end on a multimodal roundabout at James Street and Bakerview Road, with 24-hour work schedules to minimize disruption. The project will close James Street for "a considerable amount of time" while keeping Bakerview Road open. "My advice is if you can avoid it, avoid it," Hopkins warned, noting detours will route traffic down Telegraph Road and up Diemer Road. The second phase involves building a multimodal path along James Street's west side only, protecting "the really significant forested, high functioning wetland on the right side." The shared-use path will be separated from roadway traffic, similar to recent Kellogg Road improvements that "really creates a much better sense of safety when you're on a curvy, fast, narrow road." ### Park Projects Supporting Connectivity Four park projects complement the street improvements: **Sunset Pond Loop Trail** will create "the Lake Padden of the north"—a 2.3-mile accessible loop connecting existing trails around the entire pond. Future amenities include restrooms, playground, and boat access for paddling and paddleboarding. **Jills Court Trail** provides crucial connectivity, running behind industrial storage projects to emerge at Iron Gate Road. With the recent Newland property acquisition, staff will "punch that connection through to our existing Jills Court design," surplusing mobile homes to complete the trail link. **Primrose Trail** offers a constrained but important connection along the Palatica Trail, linking high-density multifamily housing down Primrose Lane to East McLeod Road and providing access to Telegraph Road's pedestrian improvements. **East Bakerview Park** represents the most complex undertaking, with staff already "about half a million in on feasibility and design." The master planning process begins in May, addressing infrastructure utilities, road frontage, creek daylighting, fish-passable culverts, future sewer mains, and housing integration. ## Director's Report and Budget Challenges ### Little Squalicum Pier Opening The long-awaited Little Squalicum Pier will open April 26 at 3 PM, marking completion of "a goal of this community to make available for the public since the nineties." The Saturday afternoon celebration will feature "some speechifying and then cut the ribbon and let everyone walk out onto the pier." Parking remains limited to the small lot serving Little Squalicum Park, though staff are negotiating with Bellingham Technical College to use their adjacent property. The pier will be leash-required for dogs, with no-diving signs due to shallow water dangers even at the pier's end. Interpretive signage will fulfill Lehigh's demolition permit conditions, with two signs planned for city property. Future improvements include wind and solar-powered lighting extending to the pier, though installation awaits materials. ### Budget Pressures and Strategic Planning The city faces significant budget constraints with general fund revenues "pretty flat" and projections showing operations "right at our emergency reserves" by year's end. All departments, including police and fire, must prepare 3% cuts to general funded expenses. "It's a little bit of a dichotomy to go out to the community and talk about what do you want in the future from our park department when we're in this general fund crisis," Hopkins acknowledged. However, dedicated funds remain healthy, with Greenways providing $9.8 million annually and park impact fees supporting development despite some decline due to reduced construction. The department previously achieved required cuts through accurate capital job costing and their new construction crew, generating an $850,000 general fund surplus that covered most reduction requirements. Recent cuts included eliminating the park ambassador program, which had generated 70% of See-Click-Fix work orders for parks. Vacancy management now requires justification for all position fills. Hopkins successfully argued for maintaining a recreation coordinator position by demonstrating it generates $100,000 in revenue despite general fund costs. Greenways funding provides strategic flexibility, having supported most new park positions over the past 15-20 years. However, with the levy ending in nine years, Hopkins noted the need for careful planning: "How many more people are we gonna fund with a levy that's going to be done in nine years? We have to re-go out to the voters again." ### School District Partnership Progress Negotiations continue on the Carl Cozier boundary and reopening, with "really solid progress" on the complex property arrangements. Plans involve filling existing wetlands in lower Jerry's fields while using the first field as a mitigation site, accommodating both school construction and recreation improvements. The Arnie Hannah study proceeds to final phases, examining facility remodeling options for aquatics expansion while maintaining continuous pool operation. Future planning may incorporate the Carl Cozier site into expanded facilities accommodating a community center. The Sportsplex faces separate lease renewal discussions focused on shorter terms covering existing bond obligations, with tenant commitments for interior improvements while the city assumes building responsibility. ## Closing and What's Ahead The meeting concluded with appreciation for new member Darren Belt's participation and commitment to address the deferred art location decision at the next meeting. With major infrastructure projects beginning, comprehensive survey results to digest, and ongoing budget challenges to navigate, the board faces a full agenda of supporting community recreation needs while managing fiscal realities. The power outage that briefly interrupted proceedings seemed fitting metaphor for the challenges ahead—temporary disruptions requiring quick adaptation while maintaining focus on long-term community service goals.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-PRB-2025-03-12 ### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on March 12, 2025, to discuss several major initiatives including artwork placement at Storybrook Park, updates to the landmark tree ordinance, comprehensive results from the PROS Plan community survey, and significant transportation and park infrastructure projects in the King Mountain/Bakerview area. ### Key Terms and Concepts **PROS Plan:** Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan - a comprehensive planning document that guides the future development and management of Bellingham's park system, updated approximately every 6 years. **1% for Art:** A city requirement that 1% of eligible public construction project costs must be dedicated to public art, managed through a selection process involving both the Parks Board (for location) and Art Commission (for artwork approval). **Greenways Levy:** A dedicated funding source providing approximately $9.8 million annually for parks maintenance, development, and acquisitions, separate from the city's general fund. **Landmark Tree Ordinance:** City regulation protecting large, significant trees by requiring permits for removal and establishing replacement requirements, recently updated to address community concerns. **Critical Area Buffers:** Protected zones around wetlands and sensitive environmental areas where development is restricted or prohibited. **Type 6 Evaluation:** A comprehensive review process for city ordinances that includes full public engagement, Planning Commission review, and City Council approval. **Level of Service:** Planning methodology that establishes standards for how much park space and facilities should be provided per population in different areas of the city. **Social Vulnerability Index:** A data tool used to identify underserved communities and ensure equitable distribution of park services and facilities. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jonathan | Parks & Recreation staff, 26-27 years with city | | Peter | Parks & Recreation staff, PROS Plan lead | | Lane | Parks & Recreation staff | | Bree | Parks & Recreation staff | | Darren Belt | New Parks Board member, youth sports advocate | | Steve Walker | Parks Board member (online) | | Ray Dellecker | Parks Board member | | Scott Pratschner | Parks Board member | | Jed Holmes | Parks Board member | | Robert Soto/Premium Services | Contractor for Storybrook Park construction | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a significant planning phase for Bellingham's parks system, with the city conducting its comprehensive PROS Plan update while facing budget pressures. The community survey revealed strong support for trail connectivity, maintenance of existing facilities, and safety improvements, while demographic gaps showed the need for better outreach to younger residents and Hispanic/Latino communities. The city is simultaneously managing major infrastructure projects in North Bellingham that will significantly improve connectivity for neighborhoods that have been "trail deserts." These projects represent years of planning and substantial investment in multimodal transportation. Budget constraints are creating tension between community desires for expanded services and fiscal reality, with all city departments asked to plan for potential 3% cuts in general fund expenses while dedicated funds like Greenways remain healthy. ### What Happened — The Short Version The board welcomed new member Darren Belt and discussed artwork placement for Storybrook Park, with staff recommending Location A but agreeing to stake both options for board members to visit before the next meeting. Staff provided updates on recent changes to the landmark tree ordinance that addressed community concerns about property rights and replacement requirements. The majority of the meeting focused on comprehensive results from over 2,000 responses to the PROS Plan community survey. Key findings included strong support for trail connectivity, year-round restrooms, and maintaining existing facilities, while revealing safety concerns on specific trails and demographic gaps in survey participation. Staff presented major upcoming infrastructure projects in the King Mountain/Bakerview area, including a new roundabout starting this month that will significantly impact traffic, plus four park projects including Sunset Pond trail completion and new trail connections. The meeting concluded with budget updates about potential 3% general fund cuts and an announcement about the April 26th opening celebration for the Little Squalicum Pier. ### What to Watch Next - April 26th Little Squalicum Pier opening celebration at 3 PM - Next month's meeting for Storybrook artwork location decision after field visits - James Street/Bakerview Road roundabout construction impacts starting end of March - Greenways annual report coming to board in April before going to City Council ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** BEL-PRB-2025-03-12 **Q:** What is the 1% for Art program requirement? **A:** City code requires 1% of eligible public construction project costs be dedicated to public art. The Parks Board decides location while the Art Commission reviews the artwork itself. **Q:** How many people responded to the PROS Plan community survey? **A:** Over 2,000 people responded with a 78% completion rate, which staff considered really good for such a comprehensive survey. **Q:** What was the top-ranked improvement people wanted for existing parks? **A:** Year-round restrooms received by far the most votes, followed by better lighting and improved safety/security. **Q:** Which demographic groups were underrepresented in the survey? **A:** Ages 14-24 (didn't do good enough job reaching them), Hispanic/Latino population (got 3% vs. 9% city benchmark), and males (only 39% participation). **Q:** What major construction project starts at the end of March 2025? **A:** The James Street/Bakerview Road multimodal roundabout, which will work 24 hours and close James Street for considerable time while keeping Bakerview open. **Q:** What did the survey reveal about how people get to parks? **A:** About 60% drive while 40% walk/bike/roll - better than initially appeared since walking and biking were separate categories in the survey. **Q:** How much annual funding does the Greenways levy provide? **A:** Approximately $9.8 million per year for parks maintenance, development, and acquisitions, separate from the city's general fund. **Q:** What changes were made to the landmark tree ordinance? **A:** Can no longer nominate trees on other people's property, clarified definitions, reduced replacement ratios from 1 tree per inch diameter, and created appeal process. **Q:** When is the Little Squalicum Pier opening celebration? **A:** April 26th (Saturday) at 3 PM, featuring former mayors, music, speechifying, and ribbon cutting for this long-standing community legacy project. **Q:** What is Sunset Pond being compared to? **A:** Staff told the King Mountain neighborhood it will be "the Lake Padden of the north" when the 2.3-mile accessible loop trail is completed. **Q:** Where does the hockey community currently play? **A:** The cricket field at Lake Padden (which is actually a multi-use field next to the dog park that gets soupy but dries out in summer). **Q:** What percentage of See Click Fix work orders were generated by park ambassadors? **A:** 70% of See Click Fix work orders for parks were created by park ambassadors, who are being cut due to budget constraints. **Q:** What was the most frequently used park facility according to the survey? **A:** Trails were the most frequently used, followed by beach/waterfront, open space, piers/docks, and freshwater beach. **Q:** What is the city's current budget situation for general fund? **A:** Operating right at emergency reserves by year end, requiring all departments including police and fire to plan 3% cuts in general funded expenses. **Q:** How will the PROS Plan break down the city for analysis? **A:** Five zones based on physical barriers: North, Central, South, Bay/Fairhaven, and Samish plus Whatcom/Silver Beach areas. ---