The Port is updating its Recreation, Conservation and Public Access Plan. This plan must be updated every six years for the Port to remain eligible for Boating Facility Grants and other grants offered through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Public involvement and support are important considerations used by RCO to evaluate grant projects.
Public engagement is an important part of the Port’s Recreation, Conservation and Public Access Plan update. The Port is conducting a brief survey about how Whatcom County residents use Port public open spaces and their perceptions about needed improvements or amenities. In order to make the survey accessible to the widest possible audience within Whatcom County, the survey will be available in English, Spanish, Eastern Punjabi, and Russian. These four languages were chosen for translation because of best practices learned from the Nooksack River Flood in 2021. Expanded accessibility is also in alignment with the Whatcom County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for 2022-2026, which has several goals related to supporting equal and fair access to quality public, private, and nonprofit resources and services for all residents and businesses in Whatcom County.
The survey will open on Monday, July 17, 2023 and will remain open until Monday, August 21, 2023. There will be opportunities for additional public participation once a draft plan is developed.
The survey and the current 2018 Recreation, Conservation and Public Access Plan can be found at this link:
https://portofbellingham.com/850/Park-Recreation-and-Public-Access-Plan
Please contact Kurt Baumgarten (Environmental Planner) with questions at: kurtb@portofbellingham.com or (360) 676-2500