Thanks for joining us for Make a Difference Day!
Last Saturday, 188 volunteers came together at our annual Make a Difference Day work party and made a big impact on forest and stream health in Cornwall Memorial Park. In partnership with NSEA, volunteers removed about one ton of invasive plants, spread 30 cubic yards of mulch, and planted nearly 800 native trees and shrubs.
The event also supported the broader community, with 100 pounds of food donated to the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters and 26 native tree saplings finding new homes through our free tree giveaway program.
In celebration of Arbor Day, Council Member Skip Williams shared Bellingham’s Arbor Day Proclamation, and Parks Department staff planted a beautiful oak tree to mark the occasion.
The community’s efforts will help improve water quality in Squalicum Creek, strengthen urban forest habitat in Cornwall Park, and build on years of dedicated stewardship work.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, and supported this event, including the local businesses that generously provided refreshments to keep participants fueled throughout the day.
Visit our work parties page to sign up for a future work party! All of our work parties are funded by the Greenways Levy.
Survey open for renters, landlords, and property managers
Do you pay or collect rent in Bellingham? Take a 5-minute survey to help the Bellingham City Council and the City’s new Landlord and Tenant Advisory Work Group understand the rental landscape and the impacts of recent regulations. Visit our Engage Bellingham page to take the survey.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Bellingham Public Library
Join us in honoring Native American Heritage Month by exploring a wide range of resources that celebrate Indigenous voices, stories, and cultures.
- Reading lists – Discover curated selections of fiction, history, and cultural works by and about Native American communities, including titles for adults, teens, and kids.
- Films – Use your library card to stream films featuring Native American stories.
- Early learning kits – Check out a Since Time Immemorial Early Learning Curriculum Kit, designed to support culturally responsive learning for young children.
Visit Bellingham Public Library’s website or stop by your closest branch to explore these resources.
Improving public spaces
Utility construction continues
Work to maintain and improve essential water and wastewater services continues around Bellingham next week, with construction affecting travel and potentially water service in several areas. Tremont Avenue, between Meridian and Hadley streets, will be fully closed Nov. 16–25 as construction continues on a new lift station. Crews will also begin wastewater main repairs next week on G Street between Halleck and Irving streets and E. North Street between Cornwall Avenue and Ellis Street. Expect daytime lane and potential block closures, detours and parking restrictions. Please follow posted signs and slow down in construction zones.
Temporary water outages are also possible for residents along Ellis Street between E. Illinois Street and Squalicum Parkway and Illinois Street between Sunset Drive and James Street as we continue replacing the water main in this area. Installation and testing will continue over the next two weeks. Outages may be needed to connect the new main, depending on testing results. Residents will receive at least 48 hours’ notice of any planned outage, including its expected timing and duration.
Invasive tree removal at Sehome Arboretum
If you’ve been up Arboretum Drive in the past week, you may have noticed a recently cleared restoration area. Last week, City Parks Urban Forestry and Washington Conservation Corps crews successfully removed an acre of invasive Siberian elm trees, along with three dump trucks full of English Ivy. Over the next several seasons, we’ll continue clearing English ivy and any Siberian elms that return, plus plant native trees, shrubs, and pollinator species. This work supports a healthy, ecologically diverse Arboretum.
