Bellingham’s Greenways Program began in 1990 when a group of citizens organized to pass a property tax levy to raise funds for park and open space land acquisition and trail projects. The idea was to link Bellingham’s trails, ridgetops and shoreline corridors with a continuous series of parks, forests and greenbelts. Since 1990, three additional levies have been passed by voters, allowing the Parks & Recreation Department to acquire more properties and develop parks and trails. All projects using Greenways levy funds have been defined through the voter-approved levy initiatives and approved by the City Council, often based on opportunities and matching resources available to the City during the course of each levy.
The Greenways Advisory Committee is comprised of Bellingham residents appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council to advise Parks Department staff and the Council on the expenditure of Greenways funds. Greenways Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Click here for meeting schedules and materials
A new Greenways Strategic Plan was adopted on December 12, 2022. Follow this link for more information.
Documents
- 2022-2026 Greenways Program Strategic Plan (PDF)
- 2019-2023 Greenways Program Strategic Plan (PDF)
- 2017 Greenways Program Strategic Plan (PDF)
- 2011 Greenways Program Strategic Plan (PDF)
- 2009 Greenways Program Strategic Plan (PDF)
- Levy Accomplishments since 1991
- Land Acquisition Summary (PDF)
Greenways Annual Reports
- 2021-2022 Greenways Fund Annual Report (PDF)
- 2020-2021 Greenways Fund Annual Report (PDF)
- 2019-2020 Greenways Fund Annual Report (PDF)
- 2018-2019 Greenways Fund Annual Report (PDF)
- 2017-2018 Greenways Fund Annual Report (PDF)
