Bellingham Parks & Recreation Leisure Guide
Issue link: https://bpr.uberflip.com/i/1517896
All you need to do to know winter is almost over, is open your window at night and let the spring peeper frogs serenade you to sleep and bird songs awaken you. They all seem louder than usual this year, but that could just be the excitement of longer days and warmer nights coming our way. The daffodils are putting on their annual show of dazzling color against gray skies, leading the way for tulips and rhododendrons which reliably delight us as we prepare for summer. It feels like we are always preparing for summer here at Bellingham Parks & Recreation. We spend the "dark wet" months acquiring properties, bidding projects, preparing budgets, and planning programs that hit peak activity during our spring and summer months. Park Operations and Athletic teams spend this time getting trails, facilities, and sports fields ready for your family hikes, work picnics and ballgames, while our Park Stewardship and Volunteer program works with hundreds of community members (you!) to restore and maintain healthy habitats in preparation for the summer. A few highlights coming this year include the opening of Phase 2 of Cordata Community Park, major roof and infrastructure repairs at the Bloedel Donovan Community Building, and a fantastic new community garden for the green thumbs of King Mountain. Recreation staff have been busy keeping the community active all winter with sports leagues, wellness and enrichment programs, and a sold-out Runnin' O' the Green race which hosted nearly one-thousand green and clover clad runners, walkers and strollers on a sunny Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Staff have moved on to hiring the summer teams who make our summer camps magical, and our beach on Lake Whatcom safe with lifeguards. These folks keep everyone moving and grooving at events like the Elizabeth Park and Boulevard concert series, Lake Padden Triathlon, and the 48th year of All-Comers Track Meets at Civic Stadium. We can't do it without our seasonal and full-time play-fessional staff, so if you see them hard at work, be sure to say hello and offer a word of thanks. They appreciate it! On the note of critical staff members, we are sad to say goodbye to Laurie Foy. Chances are, if you've ever reserved a facility, hosted a special event, rented the Block Party Trailer or booked a garden plot, you've had the pleasure of working with Laurie. She is leaving us to move to a sunny year-round location, and while we couldn't be happier for her, we will feel a little lost without her for a bit. Be patient with us while we fill her position and train her replacement. Laurie's are big shoes to fill, and we will miss her kind, capable presence in our office. We hope you find something in this Playbook that appeals to your warm-weather persona. I think most people feel a little lighter after a day in the park. Come out and see for yourself! Sincerely, Melissa Bianconi Recreation Manager (on behalf of Nicole Oliver, Parks & Recreation Director) HERE COMES THE SUN! Director's Letter "Daffodils at Squalicum" Photo by Paul Conrad cob.org/parks • (360) 778-7000 1 Cover Photo by: Patrick Ulinski