Title
Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the overall funding and major projects of the Parks, Arts and Recreation Department. Briefing only; no action required.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a general update on the overall funding and major projects for the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department.
Staff Contact:
Paul Simmons, Director of Parks, Arts and Recreation; 360.753.8462
Presenter(s):
Paul Simmons, Director of Parks, Arts and Recreation
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department features 54 parks spread out over 1,469 acres of park land. This includes 23.5 miles of trails and more than 1,100 acres of open space. The Department also provides four seasonal recreation brochures, featuring hundreds of programs and activities for all ages. The Art program features more than 125 pieces of public art and is well known for hosting the beloved spring and fall Artswalk events in downtown Olympia.
The Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department is supported by funding from two separate voted measures, the 2004 voted utility tax and the 2015 Olympia Metropolitan Parks District (OMPD), and 11 percent of the City’s general fund as stipulated in the Interlocal Agreement between the City and Olympia Metropolitan Parks District (OMPD) Board. Implementation of that funding is guided by the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Plan, which is updated every six years.
This briefing will provide additional history and background regarding funding for parks. Brief updates will be provided on the following projects:
• Grass Lake Nature Park
• Kaiser Woods
• Rebecca Howard Park
• Percival Landing
• Yelm Highway Community Park
• The Olympia Armory
Climate Analysis:
It is crucial to recognize our vast natural areas and parks as critical green infrastructure for climate resilience. Our open space properties play a critical role in climate sequestration, urban temperature regulation, water flow regulation and runoff mitigation. Our current Downtown Waterfront Re-visioning planning efforts are also looking to incorporate the findings of the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response plan into the redesign of our waterfront.
One of the goals of the Parks Department is to have a park located within a half mile of residents which encourages fewer vehicle miles for people to access parks and/or open space in Olympia. The Department is engaged in a number of strategies to create more climate friendly operations and reduce use of fossil fuels. Our stewardship program facilitates 7,700 community volunteer hours, which are designed to protect and preserve the 1,100+ acres of open space.
Equity Analysis:
The Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department is committed to building a culture of equity and belonging at every level of our organization. In 2021 the department launched an Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiative. The individuals supporting this initiative are working to analyze and update a variety of policies, procedures, and programs, to identify opportunities for infusing equity into our work. The group is also developing a series of Parks, Arts, and Recreation focused equity metrics so that we can track the progress of our efforts. Lastly, the Department has been partnering with a number of cultural organizations to co-host a series of new cultural events, including:
• Black History Month Celebration
• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders Heritage Month
• Juneteenth Festival Celebration
• Lula Fest (Hispanic Heritage Celebration)
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department is supported by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) and the Arts Commission. Both advisory committees are appointed by the City Council and meet several times per year to discuss department work plans, project updates, and program reports.
Options:
Information only.
Financial Impact:
This meeting will highlight the funding structure of the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department.
Attachments:
Presentation