To subtract from water pollution washing into the creek the City of Bellingham will install thirty-six rain gardens to filter out pollutants as rainwater passes through our Downtown streets and sidewalks. These Downtown Improvement Gardens—DIGs for short—will reduce stormwater runoff and sewer infrastructure costs, will decrease stream pollution all while making Bellingham even more beautiful.

Installation of the DIGs is funded by a Department of Ecology grant secured by the city. But once they are installed, these little patches of green will need to be maintained. So the city, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, and Sustainable Connections are teaming up to recruit local businesses to steward them.

The DIGs will sit between the businesses that steward them and the street or sidewalk, preventing runoff from carrying grease, oil, and bacteria into Whatcom Creek. And stewarding businesses will have the opportunity to decide what sort of foliage is planted outside their front door.  

Interested in stewarding? Read this brochure, then contact Project Manager, Freeman Anthony.

January 3, 2017

Jeff Jewell

December 30, 2016

Matt Mullett

December 26, 2016

Todd Elsworth

December 23, 2016

Corrinne Sande

December 21, 2016

Downtown Improvement Gardens

December 17, 2016

San Juan Airlines

December 15, 2016

Holiday Classic

December 9, 2016

Baker Beacon Rally