Title
Public Hearing for Park Naming of Property known as “Kaiser Woods Park.”
Recommended Action
Move to recommend an official name for “Kaiser Woods Park” to City Council.
Report
Issue:
Review submitted name recommendations from 2019 and 2024 for “Kaiser Woods Park” and make a recommendation to be presented to the City Council for adoption.
Staff Contact:
Sarah Giannobile, Parks Planner, Parks Arts and Recreation Department, 360.753.8020
Presenter(s):
Sarah Giannobile, Parks Planner, Parks Arts and Recreation Department, 360.753.8020
Background and Analysis:
Kaiser Woods Park is a 70.19 acre park located in southwest Olympia. It is currently undeveloped but is slated to be Olympia’s first park to have dedicated mountain biking trails.
In 2019, when the planning process kicked off for the Kaiser Woods Park Development, there was an effort to solicit names for the park. Fifty name suggestions were submitted during that time period (see attached report, 2019). Since that time, several delays have slowed the planning and development process and therefore the naming process.
After a multi-year planning process, the park development plan is in the permitting phase with the hope of breaking ground in 2025. The park development will include over 5 miles of hiking and biking trails with skills areas and features for beginners to advanced riders. This project will also include new access to the park from Black Lake Boulevard, a 25-stall parking lot and a single restroom.
Five years have passed since the last name solicitation so we opened another opportunity for name recommendations (see attached; 2024) in conjunction with the naming of “The Armory” and “Yelm Highway Community Park.”
The process and criteria for naming parks and park facilities is detailed in Olympia Municipal Code 12.62.050:
D. In naming parks and other park facilities, consideration shall be given primarily to:
1. Neighborhood, boundary roads, or common usage identification;
2. A natural or geographic feature;
3. Significant historical events or cultural attributes;
4. A historical figure;
5. A name chosen by an individual (living or deceased) who has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the park system;
6. An individual who has contributed outstanding civic service to the City or has been instrumental in acquiring or developing parks properties and who has been deceased for a period of at least one year;
7. Organizations having contributed to and influenced the betterment of the City.
E. Parks and park facilities shall not ordinarily be named for living persons unless they have stipulated the name as a condition of donation or unless the park or park facility is part of a regional facility that is named in conjunction with other governmental entities.
The code further identifies that PRAC shall hold a public hearing and consider all proposed names prior to making a recommendation to City Council.
Comprehensive Plan or Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan Connection:
Olympia Municipal Code 12.62.050 outlines the process for officially naming Olympia parks and park facilities. As stated in the code, PRAC must hold a public hearing and after consideration of all submitted names, shall forward a recommended name to City Council for their consideration.
Climate Analysis:
Naming this park will not have a climate impact
Equity Analysis:
Naming of this park will not inherently have a negative impact on equity. Choice of an official name could have a negative impact if a name is chosen that causes harm to others.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There have been several rounds of community engagement through this five-year planning process. Mountain bikers and current park users from the Ken Lake and Westbrook neighborhoods have shown particular interest in the site.
Options:
1) Hold a public hearing, review suggested park names and make a recommendation to City Council on an official name for “Kaiser Woods Park”.
2) Hold a public hearing, review suggested park names and do not make a recommendation to City Council on an official name for “Kaiser Woods Park”. This would result in PRAC not providing input to Council on an official name.
Financial Impact:
Naming the park does not have a financial impact
Attachments:
Kaiser Woods_Suggested Park Name 2024
Kaiser Woods_Suggested Park Names 2019
Kaiser Woods_PRAC Name Criteria Sheet