Culture in the Commons: Third Places in Bellingham, WA, and their effects on sustainable behavior

Authors

Sophie Richmond

Senior Project Advisor

Gene Myers

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 2025

Keywords

third places, sustainability, environmental studies, StoryMaps, ArcGIS, Bellingham, WA, Washington, sustainable behavior, community, pro-environmental behavior, Whatcom County, urban studies, conservation psychology

Abstract

This paper attempts to show the connection between third places and sustainable behavior, both active and passive. I attempt to delve into the facets of sustainable behavior and identify the elements of community third places that contribute to them. This paper discusses the results of an online survey of Bellingham residents, self-evaluating their own sustainable behavior and whether they have a third place. I also used these results to create a StoryMap of current third places in Bellingham, with the intention of connecting people to third places and perhaps indirectly influencing positive environmental behavior.

[This page links to a StoryMap entitled Bellingham’s Third Places in conjunction with this project detailing third places in downtown Bellingham, WA. The paper is included as a supplementary file.]

Department

Environmental Studies

Recommended Citation

Richmond, Sophie, "Culture in the Commons: Third Places in Bellingham, WA, and their effects on sustainable behavior" (2025). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 991.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/991

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf