BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The City of Bellingham is closing a public parking lot downtown as safety threats from homeless campers grow.
Parks & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver says Bellingham Technical college has documented several incidents that have occurred in and around their fish hatchery on Whatcom Creek, including vandalism, break-ins, physical attacks and threats of aggression.
The college’s emergency preparedness and safety manager, Al Jensen, expressed concerns about student safety.
He says this is the first step they can take to get the parking lot cleared, noting that it just isn’t safe for his students.
Jensen says they’ve also put nets over the ponds to protect the salmon and prevent vandalism.
The City Council this week voted to waive a public parking requirement for BTC’s lease of the parking lot at the hatchery, which allows them to install a drop-arm gate with keypad access.