Title
Artesian Commons Status Report
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
None.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve five recommended park changes and $25,000 in funding for a basketball hoop and fencing at Artesian Commons Park.
Report
Issue:
Staff wishes to update Council on the status of operations at the Artesian Commons Park since its opening on May 3, 2014. In addition, staff seeks Council approval on the five park changes recommended by stakeholder groups and park users:
1. Add basketball hoop
2. Add fencing and gates
3. Eliminate stage
4. Ban smoking, and
5. Add mural on west wall.
Staff Contact:
David Hanna, Parks, Arts and Recreation Associate Director, 360.753.8020
Presenter(s):
Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director
Background and Analysis:
Staff has prepared a status report on the Artesian Commons Park operations since it opened on May 3, 2014. This summary is contained in Attachment #1. The report describes:
- where the city started with the park
- what we learned from the public after the park opened
- what we learned about mobile food vendors
- what we learned about the park atmosphere
- what we learned from continued dialogue with key stakeholders and park users
- what we learned about park programming
- where we are going with park intent
- where we are going with park expectations
- where we are going with changes already implemented at the park
- where we are going with several recommended changes.
When Council approved moving forward with the Artesian Commons Park, there was some uncertainty as to who would use the park and how it would be used. The original intent was an urban gathering space centered around three food vendors and the artesian well. Park hours were limited to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The park went unfenced, and Park security would be managed like other parks downtown. Some of the basic park expectations that were not fully realized are:
...
Click here for full text