Title
Revisit Park Name Recommendations for the Properties known as “Kaiser Woods Park” and “Yelm Highway Community Park”
Recommended Action
Continue Committee discussion on park name recommendations.
Report
Issue:
Revisit the names recommended to City Council considering additional information.
Staff Contact:
Laura Keehan, Parks Planning & Design Manager, 360.570.5855
Presenter(s):
Laura Keehan, Parks Planning & Design Manager
Sarah Giannobile, Parks Planner
Background and Analysis:
On October 17, 2024, PRAC held a public hearing and had a discussion regarding recommending official names for the properties known as “Kaiser Woods Park” and “Yelm Highway Community Park”. During the October meeting there were questions by PRAC members about the background of some of the people and names suggested. At PRAC’s February meeting, PRAC requested to continue their discussion about park name recommendations at their March meeting.
The following background information and applicable code section were included in the October staff reports and are below for easy reference. Similarly, the attachments from October that list the suggested names for both properties are included as attachments.
“Kaiser Woods Park” Background
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.”
“Yelm Highway Community Park” Background
In late 2018, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation (OPARD) purchased 83 acres located at 3323 Yelm Highway for a future athletic field-oriented community park. The park master planning process proceeded over the following five years and the park is now in detailed construction document design. The approved master plan incorporates active and passive recreational amenities, preservation and protection of critical areas, and public art integration. To meet a longstanding community need for dedicated rectangular fields in Olympia, the focus of the park is on providing soccer fields.
Olympia Municipal Code Section
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.
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.
Climate Analysis:
Naming parks 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 during the planning processes for both these sites. During the October public hearing, four people provided testimony about naming “Kaiser Woods Park”.
Options:
1) Move to revise the recommendation to City Council for official names for “Kaiser Woods Park” and “Yelm Highway Community Park”
2) Do not revise the recommendation. The names of “McMillian Trails Park” and “Strawberry Fields Community Park” will be forwarded to City Council.
Financial Impact:
Naming parks does not have a significant financial impact.
Attachments:
Yelm Hwy Park Naming Criteria Sheet
Yelm Hwy Park Suggested Names
Kaiser Woods Naming Criteria Sheet
Kaiser Woods Suggested Names 2019 & 2024
Info on Marj Yung