Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan

• Equity

• Design

• Conservation

• Play

• Connection

• System resilience

• Partnerships

Those values are the framework woven through the PROS Plan’s chapters.

• Community setting – This chapter deals with location, topography, climate and natural features that define Bellingham. It also explains more about our population and local trends in recreation, plus our maintenance and volunteer programs.
• Existing facilities – This chapter describes all of our existing facilities. We include both facilities that are owned or managed by the City and facilities that are owned or operated by other agencies that also county toward the City's level of service metrics. The inventory of existing facilities is divided into classifications: neighborhood park, community park, special use site, open space, and trail.
• Land and facility demand – Level of service (LOS) standards help us plan and budget for the needs of a growing and changing population. We set our standards in several ways: how close parks and recreation facilities are to people (service area), how much land is needed compared to the population size (acres per 1,000 people), and other ways. This chapter outlines our LOS standards and tools we use to measure how much land and facilities we need over the next 20 years.
• Recommendations – In this chapter, we list potential policies, projects and facilities based on our existing inventory, needs assessments, and public input. While the list of recommendations is comprehensive, we implement them only when funding, feasibility and the right opportunities make it possible. All recommendations must also be approved by the City Council before we take action.
• Implementation – This section addresses our financial strategy over a 6-20 year period so that we can secure and maintain existing facilities, provide recreational programs, renovate facilities, and implement project priorities. It includes our revenue and expenditures, capital maintenance needs, and our funding sources.

You can read the full plan from 2020 on our website.

What is the PROS Plan?

• The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (PROS Plan) serves as a guiding document for the preservation and expansion of the park, recreation, and open space system as the community grows. It includes an inventory of existing facilities, level of service and gap analysis, and management considerations. The specific goals, objectives, and recommendations for park development, programming, and maintenance inform the work plan and funding priorities of the Parks & Recreation Department.

Why is it being updated now?

• We update the PROS Plan regularly because as our population grows and changes, and as our facilities age, we need to reevaluate our parks and recreation system. Additionally, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office requires that cities update their Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plans (PROS Plan) every six years to be eligible to compete for grants. The City of Bellingham’s last major update was completed in 2020, with a minor amendment in 2023.

How does it relate to the Bellingham Plan?

• The PROS Plan is a part of the City’s broader Comprehensive Plan, known as the Bellingham Plan. The PROS Plan is coordinated and integrated with the Bellingham Plan, which provides goals, policies, and population forecasting. It is consistent with the guidelines established by the Washington Recreation & Conservation Office and the Growth Management Act (GMA).

• A comprehensive update of the PROS Plan will began in 2025 and is being completed in two phases. Phase One occurred in spring and summer of 2025 and includes an update of the goals and policies within the Bellingham Plan. Phase Two, expected to be complete February 2026, is a functional plan that assesses the existing parks and recreation system and provides a framework for future growth. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is the primary steering committee for the update and will provide input to the project team throughout the process.

How does the City use it?

• The document serves as both a day-to-day decision making tool as well as a long range strategic planning guide. The PROS Plan aligns Parks & Recreation Department goals and objectives with other City policies and implementation plans. It's used as a reference tool to ensure that expenditures and priorities are consistent with current community values and needs.