Murals, interactive projects on the horizon as part of beautification of downtown Bellingham

Several art projects are in the works for downtown Bellingham and surrounding areas, creating what city officials hope will be prime Instagram-worthy areas to attract tourists and enrich the area for residents in the city center.

Projects valued at nearly $1 million are being planned over the next three years, said Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development manager. Financing will come from the city’s lodging tax and the general fund.

Among the planned projects is a mural for the Interstate 5 underpass at Lakeway Drive, a gateway toward downtown for travelers.

Taylor Webb, development specialist for the Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department, showed several conceptual images at a July 1 City Council committee meeting.

“We want the mural to be something that is more Bellingham-specific and perhaps has some way-finding to get people to funnel into the downtown corridor,” Webb told the council.

Councilwoman Lisa Anderson welcomed the focus on Lakeway Drive and said she hopes the project could be extended to the median strips from I-5 to Ellis Street.

“It is such a blighted-looking area and prone to graffiti. I think some beautification on that underpass is needed,” Anderson said. “That section (toward Ellis) should use some beautification because it really is the entrance to downtown. It’s a sad little section and it’s part of my neighborhood.”

Mural installation is planned for next spring.

In addition, Webb described several other art proposals, including installations in downtown alleys and interactive projects in some of downtown’s vacant buildings.

There’s a mural planned for the staircase in Lee Memorial Park between library and City Hall, and a mural for the alley wall of the Whatcom Museum’s Syre Center, next to Old City Hall.

Several “Find Billy” installations will feature offbeat sculptures similar to ones at Harriet Spanel Park, Webb said.

“They’re kind of cute, whimsical little sculptures and they will be put in kind of precarious places downtown and will really promote this kind of scavenger hunt or hide-and-seek type of element,” she said.

Mayor Kim Lund said that the art projects are designed to bring people downtown.

“We’re trying to encourage those longer stays and create a draw for visitors to come to our community to stay, to linger and find value in Bellingham. We’re making Bellingham better for everyone by making these investments,” Lund said.