Title
Agenda Item:
Approval to Submit National Endowment of Arts (NEA) Grant for the Artesian Well Site
Body
Issue:
Staff is seeking approval from council to submit an application for the NEA “Our Town” Grant for the Artesian Well Site
Committee Recommendation:
N/A
City Manager’s Recommendation:
Move to authorize staff to submit NEA "Our Town" grant application for Artesian Well site.
Staff Contact:
Brian Wilson, Code Enforcement Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3798
Presenter(s):
None. Consent Calendar item.
Background and Analysis:
In 2011, the City of Olympia purchased the former Diamond parking lot on the south side of the 400 block of 4th Avenue E. This parking lot features an artesian well that is open to access for well-users 24 hours a day. The parking lot also contains about 80 leased parking stalls available for city employees for $45/month.
The city has made improvements to the usability and accessibility of the well location which included infrastructural improvements, the addition of a community bulletin board, and a mosaic art installation.
In 2012, a wave of illicit behavior including drug/alcohol use, public urination/defecation, vandalism and littering became a daily problem at the well site. This behavior resulted in over a 50% decline in leased parkers.
Consistent with other placemaking efforts in Downtown Olympia, the City is interested in pursuing building a park on the north-side of the parking lot. The park would bring a variety of new uses for the location including physical activity, food vendors, art, additional seating, and greenery all the while maintaining unrestricted accessibility to the Artesian Well.
The City Council has appropriated $100,000 in the Capital Facilities Plan toward creating an Artesian Well park. The entire project would cost an estimated $250,000.
City staff is requesting approval from council to submit an application to the National Endowment of Arts (NEA) “Our Town” Grant to supp...
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