Share your Pride: The City of Bellingham joins people all over the world in celebrating our LGBTQIA+ communities, proudly waving our rainbow flags and banners and supporting community events. With two months of events, there are many ways to show your support this June and July. On June 3, “get loud with love” at the Whatcom Youth Pride 2023 Parade and Festival starting at 10:30 a.m. at Bellingham High School, including performances, food trucks, art and more. Continue celebrating in July with Pride IN Bellingham July 8 and 9 for a picnic, dance, parade and festival. Round out the festivities with a Pride Month staff-pick book from the Bellingham Public Library.
First pitch for Summer Reading: Bellingham Public Library’s Summer Reading program kicks off with Library Card Night at the Bellingham Bells game, Thursday, June 8, at Joe Martin Field. Show your Library card for one free general admission ticket per card. Library staff will be at the ballpark to share Summer Reading recommendations. This is a family-friendly experience for all ages. General admission is first-come, first-served on either the grass seating area, the first-base bleachers (A-D) or the third-base bleachers (L-K). For more ticket and ballpark info see BellinghamBells.com.
State housing legislation discussion: There were many notable pieces of legislation passed this year that will impact our local housing efforts. Tune in to the Bellingham City Council meeting on June 5 to hear Planning Director Blake Lyon give an overview of some notable new housing legislation and some anticipated local impacts. The new regulations have a range of subtopics including accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, emergency shelters, housing supply, permit streamlining and regulatory framework, to name a few. All are important pieces of the complicated puzzle.
Improving public spaces
Sportsplex getting new roof: One of the city’s largest recreational buildings is getting an upgrade this summer, but the building will remain open for fun during construction. Work is underway on the new roof for the Bellingham Sportsplex and is expected to last through mid-July. This 77,000-square-foot building houses Bellingham’s only ice rink, as well as an indoor soccer field, bouncy house, and other fun amenities. Regular activities are scheduled all summer long but there will be some minor detours, patience is appreciated.
Public art installation: Take a stroll or ride by the newest public art installation on the new vehicle barn at the Pacific Street Operations Center on the corner of Nevada and Virginia streets. The construction project qualified for the City’s 1% for the Arts program and now displays “Sky/Stream,” recently installed on the exterior south wall of the new barn. The art was created by the Milligan Studio from kiln-formed architectural glass and steel, with each glass piece uniquely colored and steel bars bent to create movement. The art’s effect is a joyous movement of fish and stream, with the colored glass and steel elements catching and reflecting ever-changing tones of blue and green through the sun’s daily cycle.
