### Meeting Overview
The Bellingham City Council Parks and Recreation Committee met on May 11, 2026, at approximately 2:55 PM. The committee, chaired by Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams and joined by Council Members Daniel Hammill and Jace Cotton, took up a single agenda item: a resolution to adopt the 2026 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan (commonly called the PROS Plan). Staff from the Parks and Recreation Department gave an extensive multi-part presentation covering the plan's vision, public engagement process, service standards, specific projects, and funding framework.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**PROS Plan (Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan):** A long-range planning document that establishes priorities, standards, and projects for Bellingham's parks system. The 2026 version is a complete rewrite intended to guide the city for the next 20 years.
**20-Year Vision:** The PROS Plan is structured around a 20-year planning horizon, meaning its goals and projects are intended to guide decisions from roughly 2026 through 2045.
**Level of Service Standard:** A benchmark that defines the minimum acceptable quality or quantity of a public service. For parks, Bellingham's standard is that residents should be able to reach a park or trail within a 10-minute walk.
**Stewardship (vs. Expansion):** A deliberate shift in emphasis in the new plan. Rather than primarily acquiring new land, the plan prioritizes maintaining, improving, and activating existing parks and facilities before seeking growth.
**Capital Improvement Plan (CIP):** The city's multi-year plan for major infrastructure investments. The PROS Plan is implemented through the CIP; projects identified in the PROS Plan compete for funding in the annual capital budget.
**Six-Year Plan / 20-Year Plan:** The PROS Plan contains both a near-term six-year list of priority projects (aligned with capital budgeting) and a longer 20-year aspirational list. Projects move between these tiers based on funding, need, and opportunity.
**Cost Recovery:** A financial management approach in recreation programs that seeks to recoup a portion of program costs through fees. The level of cost recovery is calibrated to the degree of public ("common good") vs. individual benefit a program provides.
**Impact Fees:** Charges assessed to new development to help pay for the parks infrastructure needed to serve population growth. The PROS Plan's funding chart distinguishes between growth-related costs (funded partly by impact fees) and maintenance/repair costs (funded by other sources).
**Condition Assessment:** A systematic survey of existing park facilities to document their physical state. The Parks Department conducted a condition assessment as part of developing the 2026 PROS Plan to establish a baseline for maintenance and capital planning.
**Pocket Park / Neighborhood Park / Community Park:** Different scales of parks. Pocket parks are the smallest, serving immediate neighbors. Neighborhood parks serve a broader residential area. Community parks serve a larger portion of the city and typically offer more amenities.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Edwin H. "Skip" Williams | Council Member, Parks and Recreation Committee Chair |
| Daniel Hammill | Council Member, Committee Member |
| Jace Cotton | Council Member, Committee Member |
| Hannah Stone | Council President (introduced the committee meeting) |
| Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Direc…
