Work begins on new waterfront park
Construction kicked off early this month on an extensive environmental cleanup project along the Bellingham waterfront — the future site of the Salish Landing Park. This transformation will turn a historic industrial area into a beautiful and accessible community gathering space.
The park will be built on the former RG Haley and Cornwall Avenue Landfill sites, which were historically used for wood treatment and municipal waste disposal. These activities left behind contamination that will be cleaned up through this project. Cleanup and construction of the first phase of the park are expected to take up to three years.
During this time, Glass Beach and the adjacent gravel parking lot are closed, as they are part of the cleanup area and will become features of the new park, which will include beaches, trees, trails, lighting, parking, and underground utilities. Learn more on the Salish Landing Park and cleanup project pages.
Submissions open for the Community Streets program
Do you live in the Birchwood, Columbia, Cornwall Park, Lettered Streets, Sunnyland, City Center, or York neighborhoods? Are there traffic issues on a residential street near you?
The next round of Community Streets is open for submissions! The Community Streets program works directly with residents to address traffic safety concerns on non-arterial residential streets. To ensure resources are distributed equitably, the City rotates focus among four quadrants — spotlighting about 25% of the community each year. This year’s focus is on Quadrant B, which includes the above neighborhoods.
Submit your ideas by March 31. Your input helps us prioritize improvements where small changes can make a big impact on neighborhood safety.
New exhibitions open at the Whatcom Museum
There’s lots to see at the Whatcom Museum starting next week on Free First Friday! New exhibitions include Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press, a nationally touring show with works by 17 African American artists, including Kerry James Marshall, Lonnie Holley, and the Gee’s Bend Quilters. Murmuration, by artist Andrew Vallee, brings a nature-inspired installation of hand-carved wood and cast bronze swallows to the Lightcatcher Light Hall. And From the Vault: Hard Edge/Soft Ground explores color and form by showcasing abstract works from the museum’s permanent collection. Plus, Vivid Victorian: Whatcom County Fashions from 1860-1900 is on view now in Old City Hall.
Learn more at whatcommuseum.org.
Library to update spaces for children and teens
Bellingham Public Library is moving forward with Phase 2 of the Central Library interior renovation project, an important step in modernizing the building to meet the needs of today’s community. The City Council recently authorized the City to accept $3 million in state grant funding for the project, which, combined with $2 million in City resources and $3.5 million in private donations, makes these critical improvements possible.
The update of the nearly 75-year-old library is currently in the design phase. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and continue through late 2027. Until then, the Central Library will remain open regular hours for most of this year.
Find more details in our press release.
