Celebrate Earth Day with all-ages activities: Earth Day is just around the corner on Monday, April 22. To celebrate, we are hosting a variety of all-ages events between April 18-25. Clear your clutter and drop off hard-to-recycle items at our recycling event, participate in fun crafts and children’s Story Times, join a volunteer work party to restore habitat along Squalicum Creek, meet with others to discuss sustainability in our region, visit an animal photography exhibit, read earth-themed books and more! We will also be handing out free trees to participants at our volunteer work party and recycling events as part of our new Community Tree Programs. Find a full list of events on our 2024 Earth Week events page.
Join the conversation about a resilient future: Bellingham Public Library and WWU’s Sustainability Engagement Institute and Center for Community Learning are kicking off a series of community forums to share your hopes and challenges related to creating a more sustainable region. Join the session at the Central Library at 2:30 p.m. on April 18: Powering a Sustainable Future. You’ll have the chance to make new connections, meet others doing inspirational work, and find opportunities for action. Forums are free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided.
Improving public spaces
Art installation lights up Cordata intersection: Have you noticed a glowing intersection at the corner of Horton Road and Cordata? Earlier this year, local artists Lin McJunkin and Milo White completed a new, mushroom-inspired art installation that uses solar panels to power LED lights at night, pictured below. The neighborhood wanted artwork that would fit in without interfering with the natural beauty of the surrounding area, and the artists took that request seriously. Artwork is inspired by mushrooms found nearby under adjacent trees. The project was made possible through the one percent for art program.
Holly Street bike lane pilot: Exciting changes are coming to Holly Street this May! We’re testing out a new bike lane on Holly Street from Ellis to Bay Street to improve safety and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. Hundreds of cyclists navigate this busy downtown street daily and this pilot allows us to study the impact on traffic flow, speeds and how comfortable people feel biking, walking and driving through the corridor. The pilot will take away one lane of traffic but will not result in any changes to the number of parking spots downtown. Community members will be invited to provide feedback once the bike lanes are installed.
Construction updates: New paving, marking, and signage continues to be added around the city to improve mobility and safety. Work continues on Woburn Street with repaving scheduled to begin the week of April 22. If the variance is approved by Bellingham City Council, most of the repaving work will take place during the night to minimize inconveniences for commuters. Additionally, we’re making progress on the Roeder Avenue lift station to improve our sewage transport system. Please be aware that water service will be disrupted from Sunday, April 14 at 11 p.m. to Monday, April 15 at 5 a.m. for customers along Roeder Ave and Bellwether Way.
Give ‘em a break: We understand that construction can sometimes cause delays, and we appreciate your patience. Let’s all come together to recognize and support Work Zone Awareness Week from April 15-19. Our dedicated crews, contractors, and flaggers are working tirelessly to ensure projects are completed efficiently and safely. Thank you for your understanding, attention, and cooperation during this time. Please visit our website for more project updates.
