Advertising in Bellingham Parks & Recreation’s Playbook will ensure your organization’s message or program is distributed throughout the community where people are looking for healthy, educational, and fun programs and cultural activities for all ages. Advertising is intended for recreation and education-based agencies, organizations, and companies that further our mission to “support a healthy community by promoting high-quality parks and recreation services“.
Distribution
The Playbook is published in the winter, spring/summer and fall. Over 30,000 copies are printed each season and distributed directly to Bellingham residences and businesses.
Digital: The online version of the Playbook is available at: https://cob.org/playbook and shared through the City’s social media pages.
2026 Important Dates
| Quarter | Ad committal deadline | Camera-ready deadline | Digital copy posted | Hard copies distributed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2026 | November 14 | November 21 | December 12 | December 12-19 |
| Spring/Summer 2026 | February 27, 2026 | March 6 | March 27 | March 27-April 3 |
| Fall 2026 | July 24 | July 31 | August 21 | August 21-28 |
Committal Deadline:
2026 Winter Playbook Committal Form
To reserve ad space payment must be received by Bellingham Parks & Recreation before 4:00 p.m. on the indicated date. Orders canceled after this date are not eligible for a refund.
Camera Ready Deadlines:
Email files to katrinalyon@comcast.net by 5:00 p.m. on the indicated date.
File Requirements
To achieve the best results with your printed ad, please follow the guidelines below:
Photos:
- Only place images that are 300 dpi at 100% size (use of lower quality images will result in poor print quality)
- Photo should be saved as CMYK (not RGB)
Formats
Ads can be saved and submitted in any of these formats:
- JPG’s – 300 dpi, CMYK at print size (see dimensions)
- Native InDesign (indd) or Illustrator (ai) files with fonts converted to outlines and linked images included
- PDF (exporting instructions here)
File Submission
- Email ads under 5 mb to katrinalyon@comcast.net
- Ads over 5 mb send to: wetransfer.com (Free)
- Dropbox links also accepted
If you have any questions or need assistance with preparing or sending your print-ready graphics, please contact Katrina at: katrinalyon@comcast.net.
Ad Dimensions, Placement and Prices
| Ad Information: | Price |
|---|---|
| Half Page: (7.25″ w X 4.875″ h) | $330 |
| Full Page: (7.25″ w X 9.875 H – Bleed 8.625″ w X 11.125 h) | $600 |
| Inside Front/Back Cover: (Trim 7.625″ w X 10.125″ h – Bleed 8.625 w X 11.125 h) | $995 |
| Back Cover (mailer): (Trim 7.375″ w X 7.75″ h – No Bleed Option) | $1,250 |
Half Page and Full Page: Space is limited and placements are reserved on a first-come, first-paid basis and subject to availability. Space can be reserved by sending the completed Playbook Committal form to parks@cob.org and/or calling us at (360) 778-7000 to make payment.
Half and full page space may be reserved throughout the year.
*Beginning with the 2025 Winter Playbook, prime location pages (Inside Front Cover, Inside Back Cover, Back Cover) will be reserved by current season only. These pages will be awarded to agencies through a lottery system. Advertisers that are interested in reserving one of these prime locations will send an email to lmwoodmansee@cob.org stating their preference. Advertisers may request up to three locations, however they will only be awarded one per edition. Once drawn, advertisers will have up to 24 hours to confirm. If we do not hear back from an advertiser, we will redraw for that page. The following dates apply for seasonal requests:
| Quarter | Requested | Notified |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2026 | November 1-11 | November 12 |
| Spring/Summer 2026 | February 1-24, 2026 | February 26 |
| Fall 2026 | July 1-21 | July 22 |
Recreation News
Subscribe to Bellingham Parks & Recreation Newsletter for the most current information about recreation opportunities, large events, and other exciting news!
Contacts
Register for a Program Now!
Register in Person at:
Bellingham Parks and Recreation
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA
Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
