Parks and Recreation Committee

The PROS Plan update revealed significant community demand for indoor recreation facilities, with indoor recreation consistently ranking lowest in satisfaction surveys while outdoor parks and trails scored highly. Staff reported that winter weather creates substantial barriers to year-round recreation, leading to strong community requests for covered facilities and all-weather playing fields. The plan's community outreach reached underrepresented populations through targeted focus groups, including Latino community members who requested more structured cultural activities and programming, and older adults who need accessible walking spaces and winter exercise options. The Sportsplex lease discussion centered on the facility's transition from a potential sale to…

**Parks and Recreation Staff** emphasized the PROS Plan's comprehensive community engagement and the need to address identified gaps in indoor recreation facilities. Staff highlighted successful completion of most 2020 PROS Plan objectives and positioned the new plan as building on that success with clear 20-year vision. **Community Survey Respondents** (2,000+ participants) strongly prioritized indoor recreation facilities, trail connections, and improved park amenities. Demographic analysis revealed varying priorities across age groups, with young adults (23% of population, 10% higher than national average) particularly interested in biking facilities, free events, and outdoor workout equipment. **Focus Group Participants** provid…

**Nicole Oliver, on the PROS Plan timing:** "We see this as a fairly clear vision of what our priority should be in the next 20 years." **Peter Gill, on community survey response:** "We got over 2,000 responses, which was really great for a parks survey. We got 78% completion rate, and we added 500 people to our pros-plan mailing list." **Peter Gill, on indoor recreation demand:** "We heard loud and clear many, many times. The winter weather makes recreation difficult for many people and we …

The city's approach to recreational facility ownership shifted significantly with the Sportsplex lease amendment, moving from a planned surplus and sale to long-term municipal ownership and operation. This represents a strategic pivot recognizing the facility's value within broader recreational infrastructure planning. Community engagement standards for parks planning elevated substantially, with the PROS Plan process including targeted outreach to underrepresented populations and comprehensive demographic analysis - a more inclusive approach…

### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Committee met on December 15, 2025, to receive two major updates: a comprehensive report on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan development and approval of a new lease agreement with Whatcom Sports and Recreation for the Bellingham Sportsplex. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan:** A comprehensive planning document that guides the Parks and Recreation Department's work plan, budget priorities, and 20-year planning horizon. Required to be updated every six years to maintain eligibility for state funding grants. **Civic Athletic Complex Master Plan:** A parallel planning effort being conducted alongside the PROS plan to address community needs for indoor recreation facilities, particularly aquatics and recreation centers. **Park Impact Fees:** Fees charged to new development to help fund parks and recreation infrastructure needed to serve new residents. State law recently changed requirements from housing type-based to square footage-based calculations. **Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO):** State agency that provides grants for park acquisitions, development, and capital projects. The city currently has about $1.5 million in grants from this source. **Whatcom Sports and Recreation (WSR):** Non-profit organization that operates the Bellingham Sportsplex under lease from the city. **Surplus Property:** When the city declares a property no longer needed for municipal purposes, making it available for sale or alternative use. **Focus Groups:** Targeted community engagement sessions with specific demographic groups that were underrepresented in the general community survey, including Latino community, Hmong community, adaptive/inclusive organizations, and young adults. **Condition Assessment Ranking:** A new systematic evaluation of all parks' physical conditions to help prioritize maintenance and capital improvement needs. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Edwin "Skip" Williams | Committee Chair | | Hannah Stone | Committee Member | | Jace Cotton | Committee Member | | Dan Anderson | City Councilmember (non…