Title
Public Hearing for Park Naming of Property known as "Yelm Highway Community Park"
Recommended Action
Move to recommend an official name for "Yelm Highway Community Park" to City Council.
Report
Issue:
Review submitted name recommendations for "Yelm Highway Community Park" and make a recommendation to be presented to City Council for adoption.
Staff Contact:
Laura Keehan, Parks Planning & Design Manager, 360.570.5855
Presenter(s):
Laura Keehan, Parks Planning & Design Manager, 360.570.5855
Background and Analysis:
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.
In anticipation of opening the park in 2026, the property know as "Yelm Highway Community Park" needs an official park name.
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...
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