Spawning salmon are here! If you’ve visited our local creeks lately, then you may have noticed many adult chum salmon. They typically return in large numbers in mid-November to lay their eggs before they die and decompose, providing vital nutrients for the ecosystem. To see them in person, the most reliable viewing locations are the footbridges in Arroyo Park and Maritime Heritage Park. You also may be able to see some from the trails in Fairhaven Park downhill of the tennis courts or the footbridge over the Little Squalicum Estuary. Please help protect the salmon, their nests, and the streamside plants that they depend on by staying on designated trails and keeping dogs and people out of streams. The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association has free salmon sighting events the next few weekends at Maritime Heritage Park and Arroyo Park, where you can view salmon responsibly and ask all your questions! Visit our website to learn more about fish in our streams.
Help us design two new playgrounds: Design is underway for new playgrounds at Bloedel Donovan Park, on Lake Whatcom, and Rock Hill Park, located in the York neighborhood. In 1999, the City installed the existing playgrounds at both parks, and they are ready for safety and accessibility upgrades. Brand new equipment will offer fun, challenging, socially connecting, inclusive, and engaging play opportunities that appeal to a wide variety of ages. Please help us select the playground equipment for both parks by taking short surveys on our Engage Bellingham pages for Rock Hill Park playground and Bloedel Donovan Park playground. The surveys are open through Nov. 25. We look forward to hearing from you!
Be a part of the art: In March 2025, the Whatcom Museum will present Not the Whole Picture, the first major museum exhibition for Bellingham-based artists Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour. The show takes its name from a new, large-scale photography installation consisting of printed photographs that are stitched together into enormous, radiating rings that evoke devotional mandalas. Community members can be a part of the art by contributing photos that show moments of everyday life in Bellingham. You can upload digital photos through the museum’s website or drop off 4-inch-by-6-inch printed photos at one of the collection points around the city. Drop boxes are at the following locations: Whatcom Museum admission desks in Old City Hall and the Lightcatcher, Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham Queer Collective, Wink Wink, El Sueñito, Back Door, Quicksilver Photo Lab, WWU Art Department Office, Dakota Art, and Bellingham Frameworks. Visit the Whatcom Museum website to learn more about the exhibition and submit photos.
Addressing the opioid crisis: An event at Depot Market Square on Friday, Oct. 25 offered area leaders an opportunity to celebrate work in our region to address the opioid crisis. Co-hosted by the City of Bellingham and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, the event also marked Rep. Larsen’s introduction of legislation to support community-based efforts to address the opioid crisis and help those with substance use disorders. Mayor Kim Lund introduced the event, highlighting City efforts to address these needs and sharing her gratitude for Rep. Larsen’s responses to them. Speakers included Lummi Indian Business Council Chairman Anthony Hillaire, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu, and others. Visit the City’s YouTube channel to watch a video of the event.
Stormwater Awareness Week: This weekend marks the end of Stormwater Awareness Week in Washington, a regional effort to raise public awareness about the impact of stormwater pollution and how to prevent it. The City has a long history of efforts to manage stormwater and prevent pollution. We steward hundreds of rain gardens and water quality facilities, install new improvement projects, maintain a robust network of stormwater pipes and drains, clean up litter and debris from public property, respond to pollution reports, restore natural areas, provide technical support to local businesses for stormwater management, and educate our community on pollution prevention actions. Visit our website to learn more about what we do and how you can help protect our water resources with simple, everyday actions.
