Downtown Bellingham
Downtown Bellingham
Downtown Bellingham
The Downtown Bellingham Discovery Tour is an opportunity to learn how the City is managing stormwater runoff and reducing water pollution in this area. The downtown core is a highly urbanized area that drains to Whatcom Creek. For that reason, infiltrating as much of the stormwater occurring in this area is imperative for water quality in the creek. This tour will introduce you to seven different types of stormwater facilities including: engineered rain gardens, permeable pavers, a bioswale, and a sand filter. The Downtown Bellingham Discovery Tour also includes additional sites outside of the downtown core.
The Downtown Improvement Gardens (DIG) have been treating stormwater runoff from over 80 urban acres which has improved Whatcom Creek water quality. The project installed 36 engineered rain gardens in strategic locations downtown that are both effective and cost-effective as compared to large centralized stormwater treatment methods. Many of Bellingham’s rain gardens in the downtown area have been adopted by local residents and businesses. These Rain Garden Stewards volunteer to do light maintenance including weeding, litter pick up, and reporting clogs.
Include tour of facilities outside the downtown core for a 4-mile tour.
4-mile tour could take up to 2 hours.
Stormwater facilities are scattered around downtown. All are accessible by wheelchair, bike, or pedestrians. Handicapped parking is mostly available in the downtown core area.
This tour is accessible with a wheelchair.
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Engineered rain gardens like this one are found in many places effectively infiltrating stormwater and reducing pollution to Whatcom Creek.
The sidewalk at the museum demonstrates the benefits such as textural interest and separation of public spaces from the road provided by low-impact stormwater management.
Check out Depot Market Square to see how designers included a rain garden and permeable pavers in the landscaping.
Traffic controls and safety improvements combined with stormwater facility improvements as done here made the intersection safer.
This bioswale was incorporated into the design for the nearby roundabout. It helps to beautify the intersection, improve safety, and treat stormwater runoff.
The space used for the rain garden here and in other places around downtown did not take away parking spots. The installation also included sidewalk bumpouts to improve pedestrian safety.
