Read with the Crew
Do you have a preschooler obsessed with big trucks? Join us from 12:05 p.m. to 1:05 p.m., Wednesday, May 14 at the Bellis Fair Library Branch for Read with the Crew, a special Public Works story time. Listen to stories read by our City’s Public Works crew in English and Spanish, then join us outside (near Dick’s Sporting Goods parking lot) and meet the trucks that help our community! The event is free and open to all ages.
Celebrate APIDA Heritage Month with us
Join a free community celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 14 at Whatcom Community College’s Syre Student Center. This year’s theme, “A Legacy of Resistance: Justice, Healing, and Joy,” honors the journey of more than 50 ethnic groups. The family-friendly festival includes a community dinner, conversations, performances, vendors, art, and more! This event is sponsored by the Community Consortium for Cultural Recognition, of which the City of Bellingham is a member. To learn more about the event, please visit the WWU webpage.
Downtown Forward progress report
This past Wednesday, May 7, we joined the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s spring meeting to share updates about the City’s work downtown. You can catch the updates in our most recent Downtown Forward progress report and read more about our ongoing commitments and actions planned for 2025-27 on our website.
Bike to Work and School Day
Join us Friday, May 16 for Bike to Work and School Day, when we celebrate and encourage people to start (or keep) riding their bikes as part of their daily commute. Visit City staff members on the Railroad Trail at Woburn Street in the morning for some swag and cheering. Check out all the station locations, organized by Smart Trips, to plan your route. Later that day, join your friends and neighbors for the Bike Party from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 1300 block of Commercial Street in downtown Bellingham. Festivities include food, games, bike polo, and an interactive community art project featuring tricycle painting. See you there!
Volunteer to clean up litter
Did you know the City removes hundreds of thousands of pounds of litter each year? You can help us do even more! Our Volunteer Litter Cleanup Program provides the tools and support you need to organize your own volunteer cleanups on public property in your area. Join your neighbors and make a visible impact.
Improving public spaces
Prep work starts next week on our project to improve water quality in Little Squalicum Creek. On Nome Street and Lindbergh Avenue near Bellingham Technical College, we will be installing underground stormwater treatment vaults, which will filter pollution from stormwater runoff before it enters the creek. Traveling in the area? You can expect to see temporary vehicle and pedestrian detours, flaggers, and reduced street parking during construction. Check our project page for updates.
Work also continues around the Bakerview Road and James Street corridor. Starting Monday, May 12, a section of James Street north of Bakerview will be closed for approximately 15 days, with traffic re-routed to Deemer Road, as work continues on a new roundabout. Starting the week of May 19, we’ll be repaving a stretch of James Street from Orchard Drive to Telegraph Road. While Bakerview Road remains open during this work, we suggest finding alternative routes to avoid delays.
Travelers may also experience occasional delays on West Maplewood Avenue near McLeod Road throughout May due to ongoing construction at the new Storybrook Park. Crews are building a concrete retaining wall near the park entrance and reconstructing driveway entrances.
