### Meeting Overview The Parks and Recreation Committee met to discuss the upcoming update to the 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan. Parks staff outlined the process for updating this long-term planning document that prioritizes improvements to Bellingham's parks, facilities, open space, trails, and recreation programs, which is required every six years for state grant eligibility. ### Key Terms and Concepts **PROS Plan:** The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan - a 20-year strategic guide for improving parks, facilities, trails and recreation programs, updated every six years to maintain state grant eligibility. **Growth Management Act (GMA):** State law requiring cities to plan for growth, including parks and recreation elements with specific requirements for inventory, public process, and regional coordination. **Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO):** State agency that provides grant funding to local governments for parks and recreation projects, requiring updated PROS plans for eligibility. **Bellingham Plan:** The city's comprehensive plan being updated simultaneously, which will include a parks chapter with high-level goals and policies. **Functional Plan:** The implementation-focused portion of the PROS Plan containing detailed inventory, service standards, and capital improvement projects. **Greenways 5 Levy:** Voter-approved funding measure passed in 2023 that includes a new category for climate resiliency projects. **Equity Prioritization Tool:** A framework used to ensure parks investments focus on underserved communities and address access gaps. **Level of Service:** Standards for how much parkland, facilities, or programs should be provided per population. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Edwin "Skip" Williams | Committee Chair, Fourth Ward Council Member | | Hannah Stone | Committee Member, First Ward Council Member | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member, At-Large Council Member | | Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Director | | Peter Gill | Planning and Development Coordinator | | Lane Potter | Design and Development Manager | | Kim Lund | Mayor (participating) | | Michael Lilliquist | Council Member (participating) | | Lisa Anderson | Council Member (participating) | ### Background Context The PROS Plan update is crucial for maintaining Bellingham's eligibility for state recreation grants - currently about $2 million for projects like Bakerview Neighborhood Park, Boulevard Park shoreline, and Sunset Pond trail. The last plan was adopted in February 2020, making an update due by February 2026. Significant changes since 2020 include the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on park usage, passage of the Greenways 5 levy, rising construction costs, and Bellingham's continued growth and urbanization. The plan will be split into two integrated parts: a parks chapter in the comprehensive Bellingham Plan focusing on high-level goals and policies, and a detailed functional PROS Plan with inventory, service standards, and capital improvements. This structure aligns with Growth Management Act requirements while providing both strategic direction and implementation guidance. ### What Happened — The Short Version Parks staff presented the timeline and process for updating the PROS Plan, explaining how it will be integrated with the broader Bellingham Plan update. They outlined an extensive public engagement strategy including community surveys, public meetings, virtual open houses, and targeted outreach to underrepresented communities. Council members emphasized the importance of maintaining equity as a central priority and discussed the challenges of balancing community desires with financial realities, particularly regarding the long-term goal of building a community recreation center. Staff confirmed the Parks chapter will go to Planning Commission in May, with the full PROS Plan completed by late 2025. ### What to Watch Next - Community survey continues through February 2025 - Public meetings start February 13th at Cordata Pavilion and February 18th at Fairhaven Pavilion - Parks chapter draft available for public comment in April 2025 - Planning Commission review of parks chapter in May 2025 - Full PROS Plan recommendations expected by August-September 2025 ---