Calling all soccer fans!
Are you ready to cheer on Team USA this summer? The Bellingham fan zone is finally kicking off and everyone is invited to join the fun. Our first (free!) watch parties are coming up quick:
- June 12 | 6 p.m.: We’ll be at Trackside Beer Garden cheering on Team USA as they take on Paraguay. Want to get in the festive spirit earlier in the day? Swing by the Whatcom Museum 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for their first of two “fan zone Fridays” featuring soccer-themed activities, giveaways, goodies, and screenings.
- June 19 | noon: You have two options to watch Team USA take on Australia. The Den and Wild Buffalo are shutting down Commercial Street for a downtown block party, and the fun will continue at Trackside Beer Garden.
Find more watch parties, learn which venues across the City will be streaming matches throughout June and July, and discover more fan zone events and activities at the Bellingham fan zone website.
Voluntary summer watering schedule
You can help reduce demand on our water supply by following our voluntary watering schedule and skipping outdoor watering days based on your address from June 1 to Sept. 30:
- Even-numbered addresses water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- Odd-numbered addresses water only on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- No watering on Mondays.
Or better yet, let your lawn go dormant in the summer. The grass will grow back in the fall. If you need a water-saving device (hose timer, repair kit, etc.), take our water conservation pledge, and we’ll mail you one. Find more information on our outdoor water conservation page.
Two opportunities for public input are coming up:
Parking reforms
The Bellingham Planning Commission is holding a public hearing tonight, June 4, on permanently removing parking minimums — rules that require a set number of car parking spaces with new developments and other land uses. Parking requirements, which can be at odds with our community’s housing needs and climate goals, have been on pause since January 2025. In addition to eliminating car parking minimums, these proposed changes would establish requirements for bike parking citywide.
Tonight’s your chance to share your thoughts with the Planning Commission before this moves to City Council. You’ll have another chance to weigh in at a future City Council public hearing, before their final vote later this year. Learn more about parking reform.
Regional transportation plan
The Whatcom Council of Governments is updating its five‑year regional transportation plan and wants to hear from community members early in the process. Explore ideas and share what matters most to you at their virtual open house. Your input will help guide safer, more connected travel options to and from Bellingham and across the Whatcom County region.
Improving public spaces
Cornwall Memorial Park parking lot is being repaved
We’ll soon be doing some work on the Cornwall Memorial Park parking lot located off the Meridian Street entrance. A section of park roadway and the parking lot will be closed June 8–12 (depending on weather conditions). The sport courts, disc golf course, all pedestrian access, and trails will remain open.
James Street (North of Bakerview) will close June 8 for about three weeks
Beginning Monday, June 8, James Street will be closed between Bakerview and Kellogg for about three weeks. The closure is necessary while crews build the retaining wall for this section of the shared-use trail. Once the area is backfilled, the road will reopen to at least one lane for the remainder of the James Street project.
Flaggers will be stationed at both ends of the closure during business hours to direct drivers to the detour, assist people walking, and help residents access their homes. Learn more on our project page.
Keep our parks dog-poop-free
Love dogs? Love our parks and want to help keep them clean? Join us for our We Scoop Events in local parks on select Wednesdays in June and July. We’ll be giving away free rolls of dog waste bags and doing our “doo”-ty to spread the word about scooping the poop, bagging it, and putting it in the trash. All are welcome to join us! If you’re not able to stop by one of our events, you can still take our We Scoop pledge online to receive free tools to help make scooping easier.
