County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee

Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Director Bennett Knox delivered his semi-annual department update to the Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee, focusing on budget challenges, strategic planning, and leveraging external resources. The 25-minute presentation outlined the department's management of 73 properties, 80 miles of trails, and extensive infrastructure including 54 restrooms, 75 parking facilities, and four campgrounds with 121 individual sites. Knox highlighted the department's mid-biennium budget strategy, which relies on Park Special Revenue funds to avoid full-time staff cuts while reducing $34,000 in extra help positions across administrative, facilities, and plantation range operations. This will impact services including potential cutbacks at Scappoose Park concessions and boat rentals. The director emphasized the department's success in securing external funding, including $424,000 from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning between Kendall and Glacier, and ongoing partnerships for the Birch Bay Beach Park project. The department is also preparing to update its Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space (CPROS) plan using reimbursement funds from the Carrasco parcel purchase. Knox outlined extensive community engagement initiatives, including a senior programming working group, partnerships with recreation nonprofits, and planning for multimodal trail projects. The presentation concluded with updates on delayed plantation range cleanup (now projected for 2028) and the indoor range opening scheduled for January 2026 for law enforcement and March for public use.

**AB2025-738 Report from Parks and Recreation Department:** Committee received the report and director's presentation. No formal vote taken. Status: REPORTED. The presentation was informational only, with no formal decisions required. Council Member Stremler asked questions about Silver Lake Park day lodge utilization, which Knox acknowledged needs improvement through internal planning processes.

**Bennett Knox, on department strategy:** "What's more important, maintaining what you have or doing new things. And my answer was, well, you know, it is a balance, and I'm committed to that." **Knox, on budget collaboration:** "We are and have really appreciated working with the executive's office on, you know, kind of what's going to make sense for our department in terms of trying to minimize service reductions, certainly not looking to lose full time staff." **Knox, on external resources:** "We are laying groundwork for external resources, and just excited to do that. So it means working with community to make that happen." **Knox, on community engagement strategy:** "If we're going to really identify what our needs are in the future, we're going to have to have a community process to do that, and that through that community process, that's what's going to unlock support for parks." **Council Member Stremler, on Silver Lake Park:** "Do you feel like the day Lodge is utilized? I mean, it's a great facility, you know, for the public to rent and so forth. I don't know how much it gets used." **Knox, acknowledging operational needs:** "I would agree that we need to look at holistically, at Silver Lake Park. Obviously, we don't have the funding for a park master plan, but we have initiated conversations with our staff."

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on November 18, 2025, for a brief 25-minute session focused on a semi-annual update from Parks and Recreation Director Bennett Knox. The presentation covered department operations, budget impacts, and strategic planning for leveraging external resources. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Mid-Biennium Review:** A mid-cycle budget adjustment process where departments can request changes to their two-year budget allocations based on changing needs or circumstances. **Park Special Revenue:** A dedicated funding source for parks operations, separate from general county funds, that comes from park fees, grants, and other park-specific revenue sources. **C-PROS Plan:** Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a strategic planning document that guides future park development and identifies community recreation needs. **Human-Powered Campsites:** Camping facilities accessible only by non-motorized transportation like kayaking, hiking, or biking, typically found in more remote or environmentally sensitive locations. **Multimodal Trails:** Pathways designed to accommodate multiple types of users including pedestrians, cyclists, and sometimes equestrians or other non-motorized transportation. **Bay to Baker Trail:** A proposed recreational trail connecting Bellingham Bay to Mount Baker, specifically the segment between Kendall and Glacier that the county is now planning with grant funding. **External Resources:** Grants, partnerships, volunteer labor, and other funding or support sources outside of county general fund revenue. **DNR Easement:** A legal agreement with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources allowing public access across state-owned land. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Bennett Knox | Parks and Recreation Department Director | | Todd Donovan | Committee Member (chairing meeting) | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Kaylee Galloway | Committee Chair (excused, away on county business) | | Chris | Parks Operations Manager | ### Background Context Whatcom County Parks manages an extensive system of 73 properties across the county, including campgrounds, trails, senior centers, and recreational facilities. With 80 miles of trails, 54 public restrooms, and facilities ranging from Point Roberts to the Lake Whatcom watershed, the department faces significant operational challenges amid budget constraints. The presentation comes during the county's mid-biennium review process, where departments are adjusting their budgets for the remainder of the two-year budget cycle. Parks is dealing with economic uncertainty while trying to maintain service levels and avoid layoffs, leading to a strategic focus on securing external funding sources like grants and partnerships rather than relying solely on county general funds. The department's approach reflects a broader trend in local government toward leveraging community partnerships and grant funding to maintain and expand services. This is particularly important for parks departments, which often struggle with deferred maintenance and growing community expectations for recreational amenities while facing budget constraints. ### What Happened — The Short Version Director Knox presented the department's operational scope and budget situation. The parks system manages 73 properties with extensive infrastructure requiring daily maintenance - from cleaning 218 toilets multiple times daily to maintaining 30 miles of roads and 170 acres of turf. For the 2026 budget, Parks identified $34,000 in extra help reductions across administrative staff, facilities, and Plantation Range operations, but avoided full-time staff cuts by using park special revenue funds. Knox highlighted recent grant successes, including $424,000 from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning between Kendall and Glacier, and CEO reimbursement for the Carrasco parcel purchase that will fund a comprehensive parks plan update. The department is pursuing strategic community engagement through working groups on senior programming, trail partnerships, and multimodal transportation, positioning for future grant opportunities and community support. Knox provided brief updates on major projects: Plantation outdoor range cleanup may be delayed until 2028 due to ecology permit issues, while the indoor range is testing equipment for a January soft opening to law enforcement and March public opening. The Lake Whatcom forest management plan draft is under public review with council adoption expected December 9. ### What to Watch Next • **December 5:** Trail summit with recreation groups and community partners on multimodal trail development • **December 9:** County Council consideration of Lake Whatcom forest management plan adoption • **Ongoing:** Mid-biennium budget review process and final 2026 budget decisions --- ## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Q:** How many properties does Whatcom County Parks manage? **A:** 73 properties across the county, including campgrounds, trails, senior centers, and recreational facilities. **Q:** What is the Parks Department's strategy for dealing with budget constraints? **A:** Leveraging external resources through grants, partnerships, and community engagement rather than relying solely on county general funds. **Q:** How much funding did Parks receive from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning? **A:** $424,000 for planning the Bay to Baker trail segment between Kendall and Glacier. **Q:** What are "human-powered" campsites? **A:** Campsites accessible only by non-motorized transportation like kayaking, hiking, or biking. **Q:** How many toilets does Parks clean daily? **A:** 218 toilets across 54 public restrooms, cleaned daily and up to three times per day at high-use locations. **Q:** Who is the new senior planner for multimodal trails starting in December? **A:** Stacy Pratchett, coming from the City of Mount Vernon, starts December 8, 2025. **Q:** What budget reductions is Parks making for 2026? **A:** $34,000 in extra help reductions: $30,000 in administrative staff, plus reductions in facilities and Plantation Range operations. **Q:** When is the Plantation indoor range expected to open to the public? **A:** Soft opening for law enforcement in January, public opening in March 2025. **Q:** What is the C-PROS plan? **A:** Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a strategic document that will be updated using funding from the Carrasco parcel grant reimbursement. **Q:** How many miles of trails does the county parks system maintain? **A:** 80 miles of trails across the three operational regions. **Q:** What partnership is helping fund Carrasco property improvements? **A:** The Nest Farm Foundation is donating $150,000 for demolition and providing funding for caretaker residence renovation and trail permitting. **Q:** When is the trail summit scheduled? **A:** December 5, 2025, facilitated by Recreation Northwest as part of multimodal trail planning. **Q:** How many campsites does Parks maintain daily? **A:** 121 individual campsites plus 6 group sites across four campgrounds. **Q:** What delayed the Plantation outdoor range cleanup? **A:** Permit delays with the Department of Ecology, pushing potential cleanup from 2027 to possibly 2028. **Q:** How many acres of turf does Parks mow weekly? **A:** 170 acres across the park system, maintained on a weekly schedule. **Q:** When will the Lake Whatcom forest management plan come to County Council? **A:** December 9, 2025, for adoption consideration. **Q:** What community groups is Parks working with on trail improvements? **A:** Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, Washington Trail Association, and Back Country Horsemen. **Q:** How many work orders did maintenance staff complete in 2025? **A:** 821 work orders for repairs and maintenance across the park system. **Q:** What facility did Council Member Stremler ask about utilization? **A:** The day lodge at Silver Lake Park, questioning whether it's being used to its full potential. **Q:** What is Parks' approach to managing the extensive restroom facilities? **A:** Developing efficiencies and standardization in restroom cleaning procedures with new staff additions. --- ## MODULE S3: QUIZ WITH ANSWER KEY **Question 1: How much total funding reduction is Whatcom County Parks facing in their 2026 budget?** - A) $50,000 - B) $30,000 - C) $34,000 - D) $40,000 **Question 2: Who is starting as the new senior planner for multimodal trails?** - A) Dave Framer - B) Rod Lamb - C) Stacy Pratchett - D) Shannon (office administrator) **Question 3: How many individual campsites does Parks maintain daily across their four campgrounds?** - A) 121 sites - B) 110 sites - C) 130 sites - D) 125 sites **Question 4: What grant amount did Parks receive from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning?** - A) $400,000 - B) $424,000 - C) $450,000 - D) $475,000 **Question 5: Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway was absent because she was:** - A) Sick - B) On vacation - C) Away on county business - D) At another meeting **Question 6: When is the Plantation indoor range expected to open to the public?** - A) January 2025 - B) February 2025 - C) March 2025 - D) April 2025 **Question 7: How many toilets does Parks clean daily across their facilities?** - A) 200 - B) 218 - C) 225 - D) 240 **Question 8: The trail summit with community partners is scheduled for:** - A) December 3 - B) December 5 - C) December 7 - D) December 9 **Question 9: What funding source is Parks using to avoid full-time staff cuts in 2026?** - A) General fund reserves - B) Grant funding - C) Park special revenue - D) Federal assistance **Question 10: When is the Lake Whatcom forest management plan expected to come before County Council?** - A) December 5 - B) December 7 - C) December 9 - D) December 12 **Answer Key:** **1. C** — Parks identified $34,000 in reductions: $30,000 in administrative extra help plus reductions at facilities and Plantation Range. **2. C** — Stacy Pratchett from the City of Mount Vernon starts December 8, 2025, in the senior planner for multimodal trails position. **3. A** — Parks maintains 121 individual campsites daily across four campgrounds, plus 6 group sites for human-powered access. **4. B** — WSDOT awarded Parks $424,000 for planning the Bay to Baker trail segment between Kendall and Glacier. **5. C** — The meeting minutes specifically state Committee Chair Kaylee Galloway was "away on county business." **6. C** — Knox stated the indoor range would have a soft opening for law enforcement in January, with public opening in March. **7. B** — Parks maintains 218 toilets across 54 public restrooms, cleaning them daily and up to three times daily at high-use locations. **8. B** — The trail summit facilitated by Recreation Northwest is scheduled for December 5, 2025. **9. C** — Knox explained that park special revenue funds would help cover 2026 costs and avoid full-time staff reductions. **10. C** — Knox stated the Lake Whatcom forest management plan would come to Council on December 9 for adoption consideration. --- ## MODULE S4: Q&A — COMMON QUESTIONS **Q: What exactly does Whatcom County Parks manage on a daily basis?** A: The department manages 73 properties including four campgrounds with 121 campsites, 80 miles of trails, 54 public restrooms with 218 toilets, 11 playgrounds, 75 parking facilities, senior centers, and maintains 170 acres of turf weekly. Staff complete over 800 work orders annually for repairs and maintenance across this extensive system. **Q: How is Parks dealing with budget pressures while maintaining services?** A: Parks is reducing $34,000 in extra help positions rather than cutting full-time staff, using park special revenue funds to cover 2026 costs. The strategy focuses on leveraging external resources through grants, partnerships, and community engagement rather than relying solely on county general funds. Recent successes include $424,000 from WSDOT for trail planning. **Q: What's the timeline for the Plantation Range facilities reopening?** A: The indoor range is being tested this week with a soft opening for law enforcement in January and public opening in March. However, the outdoor range cleanup has been delayed due to Department of Ecology permit issues, potentially pushing actual cleanup activities to 2028 instead of the previously expected 2027. **Q: What is this Bay to Baker trail project that received grant funding?** A: It's a $424,000 WSDOT-funded planning project for the segment between Kendall and Glacier, connecting to existing city trail infrastructure and the Kimball trail project. This focuses on the most actionable portion of the broader Bay to Baker vision, with existing but underdeveloped trail infrastructure that has economic development and tourism potential. **Q: How does Parks plan to improve community engagement and secure more external funding?** A: Parks is conducting strategic community engagement through working groups on senior programming, trail partnerships with recreation groups, and multimodal transportation planning. A trail summit on December 5 will bring together stakeholders to discuss routing opportunities. This community engagement will inform the upcoming C-PROS plan update, which is designed to unlock future support and funding. **Q: What's happening with the Carrasco property and Nest Farm?** A: Parks received CEO grant reimbursement for purchasing the Carrasco parcel, which will provide public access to Nest Farm through a trailhead and parking. The Nest Farm Foundation is contributing $150,000 for demolition and facility improvements. This partnership model demonstrates how Parks is leveraging community organizations to accomplish shared goals. **Q: Why is Council Member Stremler concerned about Silver Lake Park's day lodge?** A: Stremler questioned whether the day lodge is being fully utilized, suggesting Parks needs to look holistically at Silver Lake Park operations. Knox agreed they lack a comprehensive park master plan for the facility and acknowledged the need for internal planning to maximize use of existing facilities like the day lodge. **Q: What other major projects are in the works?** A: The Lake Whatcom forest management plan is under public review with Council adoption expected December 9. Parks is working on the Stewart Mountain community forest planning, Point Roberts bike improvements using transportation benefit district funding, and exploring partnerships for better historic property management with the new parks commissioner who has preservation background. **Q: How is Parks addressing trail maintenance and partnerships?** A: Parks added a Land Management Supervisor position to manage trails system-wide and develop partnerships with groups like Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, Washington Trail Association, and Back Country Horsemen. The December 5 trail summit will facilitate coordination between various entities with ownership interests in trail corridors. **Q: What happens next with Parks planning and budget decisions?** A: The mid-biennium review continues through the budget process. Parks will use Carrasco grant reimbursement funds to update their C-PROS plan with genuine community input to identify future needs and unlock support. Multiple working groups and partnerships are positioning the department for future grant opportunities and expanded community collaboration.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** WHA-CNR-2025-11-18 ### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee met on November 18, 2025, for a brief 25-minute session focused on a semi-annual update from Parks and Recreation Director Bennett Knox. The presentation covered department operations, budget impacts, and strategic planning for leveraging external resources. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Mid-Biennium Review:** A mid-cycle budget adjustment process where departments can request changes to their two-year budget allocations based on changing needs or circumstances. **Park Special Revenue:** A dedicated funding source for parks operations, separate from general county funds, that comes from park fees, grants, and other park-specific revenue sources. **C-PROS Plan:** Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a strategic planning document that guides future park development and identifies community recreation needs. **Human-Powered Campsites:** Camping facilities accessible only by non-motorized transportation like kayaking, hiking, or biking, typically found in more remote or environmentally sensitive locations. **Multimodal Trails:** Pathways designed to accommodate multiple types of users including pedestrians, cyclists, and sometimes equestrians or other non-motorized transportation. **Bay to Baker Trail:** A proposed recreational trail connecting Bellingham Bay to Mount Baker, specifically the segment between Kendall and Glacier that the county is now planning with grant funding. **External Resources:** Grants, partnerships, volunteer labor, and other funding or support sources outside of county general fund revenue. **DNR Easement:** A legal agreement with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources allowing public access across state-owned land. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Bennett Knox | Parks and Recreation Department Director | | Todd Donovan | Committee Member (chairing meeting) | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Kaylee Galloway | Committee Chair (excused, away on county business) | | Chris | Parks Operations Manager | ### Background Context Whatcom County Parks manages an extensive system of 73 properties across the county, including campgrounds, trails, senior centers, and recreational facilities. With 80 miles of trails, 54 public restrooms, and facilities ranging from Point Roberts to the Lake Whatcom watershed, the department faces significant operational challenges amid budget constraints. The presentation comes during the county's mid-biennium review process, where departments are adjusting their budgets for the remainder of the two-year budget cycle. Parks is dealing with economic uncertainty while trying to maintain service levels and avoid layoffs, leading to a strategic focus on securing external funding sources like grants and partnerships rather than relying solely on county general funds. The department's approach reflects a broader trend in local government toward leveraging community partnerships and grant funding to maintain and expand services. This is particularly important for parks departments, which often struggle with deferred maintenance and growing community expectations for recreational amenities while facing budget constraints. ### What Happened — The Short Version Director Knox presented the department's operational scope and budget situation. The parks system manages 73 properties with extensive infrastructure requiring daily maintenance - from cleaning 218 toilets multiple times daily to maintaining 30 miles of roads and 170 acres of turf. For the 2026 budget, Parks identified $34,000 in extra help reductions across administrative staff, facilities, and Plantation Range operations, but avoided full-time staff cuts by using park special revenue funds. Knox highlighted recent grant successes, including $424,000 from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning between Kendall and Glacier, and CEO reimbursement for the Carrasco parcel purchase that will fund a comprehensive parks plan update. The department is pursuing strategic community engagement through working groups on senior programming, trail partnerships, and multimodal transportation, positioning for future grant opportunities and community support. Knox provided brief updates on major projects: Plantation outdoor range cleanup may be delayed until 2028 due to ecology permit issues, while the indoor range is testing equipment for a January soft opening to law enforcement and March public opening. The Lake Whatcom forest management plan draft is under public review with council adoption expected December 9. ### What to Watch Next • **December 5:** Trail summit with recreation groups and community partners on multimodal trail development • **December 9:** County Council consideration of Lake Whatcom forest management plan adoption • **Ongoing:** Mid-biennium budget review process and final 2026 budget decisions ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** WHA-CNR-2025-11-18 **Q:** How many properties does Whatcom County Parks manage? **A:** 73 properties across the county, including campgrounds, trails, senior centers, and recreational facilities. **Q:** What is the Parks Department's strategy for dealing with budget constraints? **A:** Leveraging external resources through grants, partnerships, and community engagement rather than relying solely on county general funds. **Q:** How much funding did Parks receive from WSDOT for Bay to Baker trail planning? **A:** $424,000 for planning the Bay to Baker trail segment between Kendall and Glacier. **Q:** What are "human-powered" campsites? **A:** Campsites accessible only by non-motorized transportation like kayaking, hiking, or biking. **Q:** How many toilets does Parks clean daily? **A:** 218 toilets across 54 public restrooms, cleaned daily and up to three times per day at high-use locations. **Q:** Who is the new senior planner for multimodal trails starting in December? **A:** Stacy Pratchett, coming from the City of Mount Vernon, starts December 8, 2025. **Q:** What budget reductions is Parks making for 2026? **A:** $34,000 in extra help reductions: $30,000 in administrative staff, plus reductions in facilities and Plantation Range operations. **Q:** When is the Plantation indoor range expected to open to the public? **A:** Soft opening for law enforcement in January, public opening in March 2025. **Q:** What is the C-PROS plan? **A:** Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan - a strategic document that will be updated using funding from the Carrasco parcel grant reimbursement. **Q:** How many miles of trails does the county parks system maintain? **A:** 80 miles of trails across the three operational regions. **Q:** What partnership is helping fund Carrasco property improvements? **A:** The Nest Farm Foundation is donating $150,000 for demolition and providing funding for caretaker residence renovation and trail permitting. **Q:** When is the trail summit scheduled? **A:** December 5, 2025, facilitated by Recreation Northwest as part of multimodal trail planning. **Q:** How many campsites does Parks maintain daily? **A:** 121 individual campsites plus 6 group sites across four campgrounds. **Q:** What delayed the Plantation outdoor range cleanup? **A:** Permit delays with the Department of Ecology, pushing potential cleanup from 2027 to possibly 2028. **Q:** How many acres of turf does Parks mow weekly? **A:** 170 acres across the park system, maintained on a weekly schedule. **Q:** When will the Lake Whatcom forest management plan come to County Council? **A:** December 9, 2025, for adoption consideration. **Q:** What community groups is Parks working with on trail improvements? **A:** Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, Washington Trail Association, and Back Country Horsemen. **Q:** How many work orders did maintenance staff complete in 2025? **A:** 821 work orders for repairs and maintenance across the park system. **Q:** What facility did Council Member Stremler ask about utilization? **A:** The day lodge at Silver Lake Park, questioning whether it's being used to its full potential. **Q:** What is Parks' approach to managing the extensive restroom facilities? **A:** Developing efficiencies and standardization in restroom cleaning procedures with new staff additions. ---