The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board gathered on July 9, 2025, for what would be board chair Brian Armstrong's final meeting before relocating to the Netherlands for a work assignment. The meeting carried the routine rhythm of municipal business—golf fee adjustments, budget presentations, and policy reviews—but was punctuated by moments that revealed deeper tensions about how Bellingham balances growth, conservation, and community access to public spaces. ## Opening Announcements and Transitions Armstrong opened the meeting with news that would reshape the board's leadership: he had accepted a position with his company in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and would be moving in September for what he described as a "2 to 3 year expat assignment" that would place him "in the heart of Cyclocross." The announcement carried both excitement and uncertainty—his oldest daughter was headed to university in Colorado, and the family would be navigating an international transition while maintaining their Bellingham roots. "It's been awesome working with you all on this," Armstrong reflected. "It's been a long time." The comment carried weight beyond politeness; Armstrong had reapplied for his board position despite the move, fingers crossed for reappointment upon his eventual return. The meeting also featured passionate public comment from Brian Armstrong—a different Brian Armstrong, this one a park steward at Squalicum Creek Park. The steward delivered pointed remarks about the loss of AmeriCorps funding that had supported two positions facilitating volunteer work parties and environmental education. "When I see that these positions are being cut, I start to wonder, well, how are we gonna facilitate the program going forward?" he asked, noting that over 150 volunteer applications remained unprocessed due to staff shortages. His testimony painted a picture of untapped community energy: "If you think 150 people that are applying, and then there's 50 more of us that actually are park stewards, that's 200 people. If we only did 5 hours a month... that would be 1,000 hours of service, but I mean, I've done times anywhere from 60 to 100 hours in a month." He challenged the board and staff to reconsider budget priorities that could support volunteer coordination, arguing the investment would yield far more than the cost in both conservation work and community building. ## Golf Course Fee Adjustments: Finding Balance The board's first formal business item demonstrated how ev…