Port of Bellingham asks for public input on recreation plan

By Stefanie Donahue

The Port of Bellingham has released a 17-question survey to collect public input on its six-year plan for recreational facilities in Whatcom County.

The survey, released on March 31, will be used to update the Port of Bellingham’s Recreation, Conservation and Open Space (RCO) plan. The plan helps guide decisions on where to build new facilities, how to improve existing facilities and how to allocate capital investments – whether that be in marinas, the visitor moorage or boat launches.

Approximately 1,600 acres of county land is owned by the port, including shipping and cruise terminals, two marinas, industrial development areas, commercial uplands, parklands, shoreline public access areas and the Bellingham International Airport.

“Understanding community priorities is essential to creating a well-developed plan that guides the future development of recreational facilities and enables the port to efficiently administer resources,” read a statement accompanying the release of the survey. “With the help of the community, an approach can be developed that maintains and enhances the qualities that make Port recreational facilities special.”

Port staff are planning to host open house meetings in Bellingham and Blaine in the late summer and early fall after the survey is closed in June. At the meetings, Port staff will release the results and a draft plan. The Port’s board of commissioners is likely to adopt the final plan in October, said public affairs administrator Michael Hogan.

Contact port planning analyst Greg McHenry with comments by email at gregm@portofbellingham.com. To access the online survey, visit surveymonkey.com/r/TG8R3FZ.