Community Wellbeing
See our new Community Wellbeing chapter updates and provide feedback.
Community Wellbeing: Proposed new chapter in the plan
This topic is a proposed addition to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, to be included in the updated Bellingham Plan. Feedback from the public in 2023 and 2024 identified several themes related to the wellbeing of the community.
While many of these themes exist in the 2016 plan, their importance has only increased in 2023 outreach responses. They promote a safe, healthy, and supported community. This is a key priority for Bellingham. Community members have continually emphasized the importance of human or community services, general wellness, public health, food systems, community safety, and feeling welcomed in a diverse community.
What changes will happen in the Bellingham Plan?
You will see a new chapter in the draft Bellingham Plan material representing this topic. It will include the following:
1) A consolidation of existing goals and policies from the 2016 Comprehensive Plan that relate to community wellbeing and are still relevant. For example, we have a number of existing policies about healthy food access that will move to this new chapter.
2) New policies that reflect feedback we are hearing about this topic. For example, we want the Bellingham Plan to reflect the values and priorities of the community, such as community cohesion.
3) New policies that reflect work the City is already doing to support community wellbeing initiatives.
The topic of community wellbeing was touched on at our initial “Community Vision” session as we explored what safety means to community members. We dove into the wellbeing topic in much greater detail at the “Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community” event, where we discussed how our community can be more welcoming, healthy, and lively. This event touched on diversity, arts, culture, food systems and more.
- Community Vision – February 22, 2024
- Vibrant, Equitable, and Welcoming Community – March 6, 2024
Art, Cultural & Community Spaces
Show us on the map!
What kinds of art, cultural and/or community gathering spaces are significant to you? Share your ideas by placing a pin on the map where you feel like you belong. If you have a general idea for art, cultural and/or community gathering spaces that are important to you or you think are missing, use the "General Comment" pin and drop your pin in Bellingham Bay!