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 pla...
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