• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Logo

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

Travel, Hotel and Visitor Information

Bellingham Outdoors Animated Logo
  • Home
  • Places to Stay
    • Hotels / Resorts
    • Vacation Rentals / Bed & Breakfasts
    • Camping / RV Parks
    • Hotel Packages / Special Rates
    • Park n’ Fly Hotel Packages
  • Places to Eat
    • Restaurants
    • Craft Breweries
    • Wine, Spirits & Wineries
    • Coffee Shops & Sweets
  • Things to Do
    • Events Calendar
    • Annual Events
    • Agricultural
    • Attractions
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Cannabis
    • Casinos
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Itineraries
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Shopping
    • Snowsports
    • Spas & Health
    • Theaters & Music
    • Tours
    • Water Adventures
    • Summer Activities
    • Fall Activities
    • Winter Activities
    • Spring Activities
    • Whatcom Arts Project
  • Outdoors
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Snowsports
    • Water Adventures
  • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Ground Transport
    • Air Transport
    • Water Transport
    • US/Canada Border
  • Blogs
  • Communities
    • Bellingham
    • Birch Bay
    • Blaine
    • Downtown Bellingham
    • Fairhaven Historic District
    • Ferndale
    • Lummi Island
    • Lynden
    • Mt. Baker
    • North Cascades
    • Point Roberts
    • Sumas
  • Media
    • Media Request Form
    • Articles & Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Photo Contest
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Weather
    • Request Information
    • Jobs & Volunteer
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Membership
    • Member Directory
    • Services
      • Event Planning
      • Relocation
      • Business
      • Education
      • Financial
      • Medical
      • Out of Area
Home / Press Releases / Recreate Responsibly in Whatcom County this weekend under extended “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order
For Immediate Release:

May 7, 2020

Media Contact:

​Nicole Oliver, Interim Parks & Recreation Director

City of Bellingham

noliver@cob.org

(360) 778-7013

https://www.cob.org/news

Recreate Responsibly in Whatcom County this weekend under extended “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order

The weather is expected to bring sunny warm weather in Whatcom County as we move into the moth of May and City of Bellingham park visitors must recreate responsibly in order to keep our parks and trails open during this ongoing health crisis. In alignment with Governor Jay Inslee’s revised order signed May 4, Bellingham’s parks and trails are open, but facilities other than park restrooms remain closed. Gathering is not permitted and social distancing is required.

While Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order is being extended to the end of May, his “Safe Start” plan amends some components of the original order and allows for a start to re-open the state, including certain outdoor recreation activities.


Recreate Responsibly This Weekend Under Extended “stay Home, Stay Healthy” Order In Bellingham Washington

The order allows, with strict restrictions, fishing, hunting, boating, hiking and golf. The Lake Padden golf course opened May 5​, with careful monitoring and protocols in place to ensure safety.  The boat launch at Bloedel-Donovan Park is also open and the Aquatic Invasive Species team will be there to perform required inspections that help ensure the safety of our community’s drinking water.

Phase 1 of the “Safe Start” plan​, which took effect Tuesday, May 5th, does not change how Bellingham is currently managing City parks and trails. Park Ambassadors are monitoring parks 7 days a week, to ensure groups are not gathering, picnicking, sunbathing, playing sports or using closed park amenities. 

“Please keep moving, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, then go home,” is the common refrain the Park Ambassadors use when interacting with park visitors.

If you arrive at a park or trail and see that it is crowded and social distancing will be challenging, please leave and try another location or come back later. Please don’t add to congested areas – crowded parks could lead to closed parks. Some parking in large parks will continue to be closed.

Please limit the time you spend so more people can safely enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Try to visit alone or with people in your household only. Park Ambassadors will be out to educate and greet park visitors, so don’t be alarmed if one of our staff approaches you to kindly remind visitors of guidelines so we can keep our parks open and available for our community.

“It is imperative that we remain disciplined and follow the phased approach outlined by the Governor’s order,” said Nicole Oliver, Interim Parks & Recreation Department director.  “In addition to monitoring park use now, we are making plans to open additional popular amenities when Phase 2 of the Governor’s plan is reached. But we will only reach the next phase if we are disciplined now and keep up all our efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Oliver added that Phase 2 of the Governor’s “Safe Start” plan​ allows 5 people to gather and play, which could enable activities like disc golf, pickleball, dog off-leash parks, and bike parks to reopen.

She also added the reminder that all large organized and permitted events and activities​ in Bellingham are canceled through August 30th. 

Please visit www.cob.org/parks for maps and additional information.  ​


Share:

Filed Under: Press Releases Tagged With: parks and trails open in Bellingham Washington, Parks and trails open in Whatcom County, Recreate Responsibly, things to do in Whatcom County

Footer

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229

Hours: Due to COVID-19, the Visitor Center is open limited hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Masks required.

Phone: 360-671-3990
Email: tourism@bellingham.org

Join

Sign up to receive Bellingham Whatcom County events & information!

Share

site by highwaters.net