Bellingham City Council Parks and Recreation Committee

The Parks and Recreation Committee unanimously approved the Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan, a comprehensive 20-year vision that reimagines the 50-acre site as a premier regional destination. The plan represents the culmination of a multi-year planning process that began in 2022 with extensive public engagement, including over 1,000 participants in surveys, open houses, and consortium meetings. The master plan transforms the current "complex" into a connected "campus" featuring an accessible civic spine, expanded indoor recreation facilities, potential partnership with Bellingham Public Schools for elementary school relocation, and a future community recreation center with expanded aquatics. The presentation by MXM consultant Bryce outlined a three-phase implementation strategy starting with northern field improvements and school district coordination, followed by construction of the civic promenade spine, and culminating in major capital investments for facility expansion. The plan addresses longstanding accessibility challenges at the terraced site by creating an all-ages, all-abilities pathway connecting the entire campus from north to south. A significant aspect of the plan involves ongoing discussions with Bellingham Public Schools about relocating Carl Cozier Elementary to a five-acre site at the north end of the complex, though recent school district reconsiderations due to declining birth rates have introduced uncertainty to this partnership timeline. The plan was designed to proceed with or without the school component. Parks Director Nicole Oliver emphasized that momentum from the planning process will not be wasted, with the community recreation center planning phase already underway, supported by $200,000 in state funding for business plan development. The committee expressed strong support for preserving the existing forest area while finding ways to safely activate it, reflecting community priorities heard throughout the planning process.