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Bellingham council adopts 2026 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan
Summary
Council adopted the 2026 PROS plan after staff presentations and public engagement; the update preserves grant eligibility and prioritizes accessibility, trail connections and maintenance of existing parks.
The Bellingham City Council on Monday adopted the 2026 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan, a long-range guide for parks, trails, open space and recreation programs over the next 20 years.
Council member Skip Williams said parks staff described an extensive public-engagement process—including surveys, four public meetings and five focus groups representing Latino, adaptive, young-adult, recreation provider and Sikh communities—and that the draft plan was revised based on community input. The plan updates facility inventories, level-of-service metrics and capital planning processes and emphasizes maintaining and maximizing existing parks and trails while addressing gaps—particularly in North Bellingham and the Samish area.
Williams noted the PROS update is required to maintain eligibility for Washington State recreation and conservation grants and must be completed by June 2026. After the committee report and a brief council discussion, the council voted 7–0 to adopt the plan.
