Title
Public Hearing and Recommendation for Proposed Park Naming for 911 Adams St SE - Rebecca Howard Park for Peace and Healing
Recommended Action
Hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council to approve the proposed name "Rebecca Howard Park for Peace and Healing" for the 911 Adams St SE park property.
Report Issue:
This is an opportunity for PRAC to hear from the public and consider the suggested park name of "Rebecca Howard Park for Peace and Healing" for the 0.34-acre parcel located at 911 Adams St. SE in Olympia. Shawna Hawk, the founder of The Women of Color in Leadership Movement and the Director of Media Island International, a cultural center located near the park, has suggested this name.
Staff Contact:
Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts, and Recreation Director
Background and Analysis:
The 0.34-acre parcel located at 911 Adams St. SE in Olympia was purchased as a park in 2021. Current community discussions have focused on the site for a future park centered on peace and healing around race and equity. As our community addresses the issues of equity and social justice, a "Peace and Healing Park" has the potential for being a space of community gathering and healing. More specifically, our hope is to create a space that honors and recognizes the accomplishments, contributions, and history of some of our African American community members.
Over the last year and half, a group of community stakeholders began meeting to discuss development proposals and a vision for the future park. The stakeholder group is working to identify three different concepts that will be shared as part of a full public process that will work to narrow them down into a single vision for the property. This broader public process is anticipated to begin in early 2022.
Five goals that have been identified for the future park -
* To celebrate, honor, and recognize the local history and contributions of our African American community members.
* To provide a...
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