BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A downtown bike patrol will return to Bellingham as part of newly released city plans for 2025.

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund and the City of Bellingham recently released a six-month progress report on Thursday, Aug. 22 on the executive order she issued earlier this year in February.

In her first major action as Bellingham mayor, Lund had announced a series of action items to address the fentanyl crisis in the city with a specific focus on revitalizing its downtown area.

According to the report, EMS calls for suspected overdoses have decreased so far in 2024 and are now at their lowest point of the year.

The report went on to note what’s in store for the city over the next two years in Phase 2 of the newly launched planning effort called Downtown Forward.

In addition to the return of a Bellingham Police bike unit that will patrol downtown Bellingham seven days a week, the city plans to offer $250,000 in grant funds for downtown-based art and activities. It will also conduct a study of commercial and retail industry trends to develop a plan for eliminating vacancies and repurposing underutilized properties downtown.

The city will host several opportunities for the community to give their input, starting with a Downtown Forward Celebration at Chuckanut Bay Distillery on Sept. 19.

The public can also offer their feedback and share ideas for downtown Bellingham through a survey on the city’s website.