Lighted bikes and all-ages fun: The weather outside might seem frightful, but a bunch of lighted bikes, music, hot cocoa and general merriment will be delightful!! Save the date for the 3rd annual Lighted Bike Parade, December 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m. This all-ages event starts in Downtown Bellingham (at Depot Market Square – 1100 Railroad Ave) and Fairhaven (at Hillcrest Church – 1400 Larrabee Ave) and converges at Boulevard Park for live music and other entertainment. Free and open to all. Costumes are encouraged, holiday cheer is required! Co-hosted with WTA, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, Fairhaven Association, Whatcom Smart Tips and Western Washington University.
More holiday lights: Head to Depot Market Square tomorrow evening (December 2, 2023) at 5:30 p.m. for free cocoa and cookies, crafts, a photo booth and the annual Downtown tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Let this holiday tradition kick off a memorable, magical and festive evening downtown!
Name that park: We’re working with developers to design and build a new public park in the Cordata Neighborhood, and we need your help to give it a name. Currently called just “Northwest Neighborhood Park”, we’re seeking your ideas for a name that’s a little more interesting! Log in to Engage Bellingham to share your ideas or vote on others. While you’re there, you can see the proposed park design and take the survey to vote on your favorite playground equipment.
Protecting trees: Progress continues on developing Bellingham’s first Urban Forestry Management Plan (“Plan”) for maintaining a healthy and desirable urban forest. On Monday, November 20, the Bellingham City Council decided to develop the Plan using a 45% tree canopy cover target, a net increase in canopy cover citywide. This target will guide which actions are included in the draft Plan. We will be asking the community to provide feedback on the draft Plan in early 2024, before it is finalized and approved by the City Council. Additionally, work is already underway on two actions to support our urban forest. The City is developing a draft ordinance to enhance protections for exceptional trees and beginning to design a tree-incentive pilot program for planting trees on private property. Sign up to receive email updates about the Urban Forestry Management Plan process and feedback opportunities.
City seeks artists for installation in Pacific Street building: The City is seeking an artist or artist team for an interior installation at new buildings coming to the City’s Pacific Street Operations Center. The buildings are currently in the design phase, and construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The new section of the Operations Center, located on the corner of Pacific Street and Carolina Street, will include a glass-enclosed lobby open to the public where visitors and people walking by can enjoy the artwork. Up to $240,000 is available for design, materials, fabrication and installation of the artwork. Interested artists should submit a proposal by January 5, 2024. Get more information on our Public Arts page. These funds were made available through the City’s One Percent for Art Program.
Winter shelter ready to open: The Road2Home Winter Shelter at Civic Field opens tonight (December 1, 2023) and will operate every night through the end of February 2024. We applaud the hard work by Road2Home staff and our own Parks, Planning and Community Development, and Public Works employees who prepared this shelter to welcome guests this season. Thank you to everyone who contributed! Get details about all of the shelter options available in our community this winter at www.whatcomcounty.us/wintershelter.
