Title
Approval of Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an Addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the Draft Call for Art
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee recommends the City Council move to approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Jim Burlingame, Chair, Olympia Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
On August 23, 2023, the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee moved to recommend to City Council approval of the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project, as a mid-year addition to the Municipal Art Plan. This is a timely project, with the majority of construction for upcoming park improvements happening in 2024. The park construction budget also engages the City’s 1% for Art ordinance: All requests for appropriations from the General Fund for new construction projects visible and usable by the public, and exceeding five hundred thousand and no/100 dollars ($500,000.00) shall include an amount equal to one percent of the estimated construction cost of such project for Public Art.
On September 14, 2023, the Arts Commission reviewed the attached Call for Art for the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project.
At 195.71 acres, Grass Lake Nature Park contains the headwaters of Green Cove Creek and one of the most environmentally intact wetland systems in northern Thurston County. Over 100 bird species and 200 plant species have been recorded in the park. Grass Lake Nature Park's primary functions are wildlife protection, wildlife viewing, and environmental education.
Upcoming improvements include a new asphalt multi-use trail through Grass Lake Nature Park from Kaiser Road to the gravel maintenance road through the Harrison Avenue Parcel. A new trailhead with expanded parking will also be constructed.
The proposed project would utilize a large (10’ diameter x 23’ long) steel water tank on the property to be repurposed as material to construct a bird blind along the pathway for viewing of the birds that utilize Grass Lake, and two park entrance markers. Repurposing the water tank redirects salvage material for reuse and offers the opportunity for deeper connection to the recent history of the site.
Approval of the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project, will allow staff to move forward in selecting an artist for the project by releasing the Call for Art, which is attached as a draft document in this staff report.
Climate Analysis:
Utilizing repurposed material from the site reduces need for virgin materials and the associated carbon used for processing and transportation.
Equity Analysis:
Development of a public art project for Grass Lake Nature Park will not positively or negatively burden a group that has been historically deprioritized or forgotten. For this project, the Arts Commission proposes working with Thurgood Marshall Middle School, a Title 1 School which receives federal financial assistance to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students. As of 2021/2022, demographics of enrolled students at Thurgood Marshall Middle School (according to the OSD website) were Hispanic/Latino of any race(s) (15.9%), Asian (7.6%), Black/African American (8.7%), American Native/Alaskan Native (0.7%), Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (1.1%), Two or More Races (11.9%), and White (54.1%).
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Thurgood Marshall Middle School Citizen Science Institute (CSI) has been very active studying Grass Lake Nature Park. If approved, the Arts Commission proposes seating a high-school aged CSI alumnus on the jury (selection) committee and engaging the current CSI class in introducing the selected artist to the natural aspects of the park.
Financial Impact:
1% for Arts funding for Grass Lake Nature Park estimated at $29,786, to be held in the Municipal Art Fund. Staff proposes adding $2214 to that amount from the Municipal Art Fund for a total project budget of $32,000.
Options:
1. Move to approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park.
2. Move to approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project as an addition to the Arts Commission Work Plan and the amend the Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park.
3. Do not approve the Grass Lake Nature Park Public Art Project, maintaining the 1% for Art funds in the Municipal Art Fund for future projects.
Attachments:
Draft Call for Art for Grass Lake Nature Park
2023 Municipal Art Plan