Chapter 3 Report on the Last Plan

As we go forward, we build on the past. The last six years have brought many changes to our programs and services based on the blueprint presented in the 2010 Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan, City budgets, and community need.

Park Facilities Constructed Since 2010 Plan Adopted

Since the last plan was written, the following park facilities have been constructed:

•    Lions Park Playground (2010)

•    Percival Landing Plinths (2010)

•    Percival Landing Reconstruction Phase 1 (2011)

•    Kettle View Park Phase 1 (2011)

•    Sunrise Park Restroom (2011)

•    LBA Park Playground (2011)

•    Yauger Park Playground (2011)

•    Yauger Park Community Garden (2011)

•    Sunrise Park Community Garden (2012)

•    Lions Park Shelter (2012)

•    Kettle View Park Shelter (2013)

•    Artesian Commons Phase 1 (2014)

•    Yauger Park Pump Track (2015)

•    Sunrise Park Playground (2015)

•    Percival Landing E Float Electrical (2015)

•    Percival Landing F Float Replacement (2015)

•    Priest Point Park Kitchen Shelter 4 (2015)

Public Art Pieces added to Olympia’s Collection Since 2010 Plan Adopted

Title	Location	Artist	Year Acquired
Olympic Carvings	Boulevard/Log Cabin Roundabout	Steve Jensen	2010
CAWWMMUNITY	Olympia City Hall	Judith Gebhard Smith	2011
Daylighting Moxlie Creek	Olympia City Hall	Mimi Williams	2011
Essence of Olympia	Olympia City Hall	Shelley Carr	2011
Signet Ring	Olympia City Hall	Tom Anderson	2011
The Call of Duty	Olympia Fire Station 4	Haiying Wu	2012
Justice for All	Lee Creighton Justice Center	John Vanek	2012
King Salmon	West Bay Park	Dan Klennert	2012
Sky River Trees	Hands On Children’s Museum	Koryn Rolstad	2012
Rainforest Dream	Priest Point Park	Leo E. Osborne	2013
Windstar	Port Plaza	Ross Matteson	2013
Walking on Land by Water	West Bay Drive	Carolyn Law and Lucia Perillo	2014
Illuminated One	City Hall	Leo E. Osborne	2014
Olympia Oyster	TBD (Plinth Project People’s Choice)	Colleen R. Cotey	2015

View Park and Public Art Projects since 2010 Plan Adopted.

Grants and Donations Received Since 2010 Plan Adopted

Since the last plan was adopted in 2010, the Department has been able to augment traditional funding sources by securing over $7.9 million in grants and donations. Two generous citizens also donated land to the City for future park sites, totaling approximately four acres.

Monetary Grants/Donations
Date	Project	Agency	Amount
2010-2015	Arts Walk Sponsorship	Heritage Bank & WSECU	$12,000
2010-2015	Recreation Program Scholarships	Community Donations	$14,047
2010	Percival Landing Rehabilitation	State Legislature	$3,000,000
2010	Percival Landing Rehabilitation	Housing and Urban Development	$1,071,400
2010	Percival Landing Rehabilitation	Washington State Heritage Capital Project Fund	$555,660
2010	Percival Landing Rehabilitation	Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (RCO)	$164,075
2011	Percival Landing Rehabilitation	Citizens - Railing Project	$32,600
2011	Park Stewardship – Volunteer Tools	REI	$10,000
2012	Isthmus Property Acquisition	Thurston County Conservation Futures	$600,000
2012	Olympia Woodland Trail Phase IV Study	Washington Dept. of Transportation via Thurston Regional Planning Council	$65,000
2012	Park Stewardship Interpretive kiosks	REI	15,000
2013	Isthmus Property Development	Olympia Capitol Park Foundation	$100,000
2013	Park Stewardship – Volunteer Trailer & Camping Equipment	REI	$10,000
2014	Isthmus Property Development	Community Development Block Grant	$250,000
2014	Percival Landing F Float	Washington State Parks	$308,874
2014	Yauger Park Pump Track	REI	$5,000
2014	Yauger Park Pump Track	Macy’s	$449
2014	Olympia Woodland Trail “Hub Junction” project	Federal Transportation Alternatives Program Grant via Thurston Regional Trails Council	$50,000
2015	Percival Landing Bulkhead Replacement	State Appropriation	$921,500
2015	Stevens Field Synthetic Turf	Washington Recreation and Conservation Office	$193,223
2015	Yauger Park Pump Track	Nisqually Indian Tribe/PARC Foundation	$5,000
2015	Park Stewardship Trail Stewardship Program	REI	$8,000
2015	Park Stewardship Volunteer Appreciation sponsorship	Washington State Employees Credit Union	$400
2010-2015	Park Stewardship volunteer hours (6,500 average annually)	N/A	$585,000
		TOTAL	$7,977,228.00
Land Donations
2013	Olympia Woodland Trail Addition	Private Citizen	.89 acres
2015	Springwood parcel (formerly Zabels)	Private Citizen	3.19 acres
2015	Olympia Woodland Trail Addition	Private Citizen	2.39 acres
		TOTAL	6.47 acres

These funds and land donations will benefit the citizens of Olympia though enhanced amenities, greater access to nature, and a more beautiful urban landscape.

Changes in Programs and Services since 2010 Plan Adopted

Extensive changes have been made in activities and services since 2010. The most significant are listed below:

Activities:

•    Percival Plinth Project (sculptural exhibition on Percival Landing)

•    Community gardens

•    Kids Canopy Climb tree-canopy environmental education climbing adventure

•    Environmental stewardship elements integrated into Outdoor Adventure programming

•    Increased offerings of youth camps

•    Adopt-A-Park Program

•    Park Stewards Program

•    Junior Ranger Program

•    Annual Backyard Campout in Priest Point Park

•    Nature Hikes

•    Artesian Commons activities and events

•    Youth and adult ultimate Frisbee league

•    “Smaller Ballers” youth sports program

Services:

•    On-line map of all public art: public art

•    Pesticide Free Parks initiative in six neighborhood parks

•    Safe and Secure Parks initiative

•    Monthly department e-newsletter

•    Use of social media and on-line public input forums

•    Volunteer Power Tool Program

•    Harbor House and Priest Point Park Shelter #4 available for rent

Setting the Stage for the Future: Planning Projects

A variety of planning efforts have set the stage for projects already in the works and those slated for completion during this planning horizon.

Some significant planning efforts since 2010 have included:

•    Percival Landing Condition Assessment Report (2014)

•    Community Park Site Suitability Study (2014)

•    Olympia Woodland Trail Phase 4 Alternatives Analysis Study (2014)

•    Heritage Park Fountain Evaluation (2014)

•    Olympia Comprehensive Plan (2014)

•    Municipal Art Plan (2015)

•    West Bay Environmental Restoration Assessment (2015)

•    Downtown Strategy (underway)

Challenges: Balancing Priorities in a Changing Community

Those who live here treasure Olympia’s location at the southern end of Puget Sound. We value our relationship to our natural environment. We cherish our backyard – forested ravines, wetlands, and evergreen landscape. Our environment is rich in beauty and diversity. In addition to our wonderful people, our environment enhances our quality of life in Olympia.

Our world continues to change at a record pace. Change offers both challenge and opportunity. Some of the major challenges that will likely have a major impact on OPARD services in the coming years are described below.

1. Public Needs to be Safe and Secure in Parks and Facilities

The past several years have seen an increase of unwanted and illegal behavior in Olympia’s parks. Illegal drug use, vandalism, alcohol consumption, unauthorized camping and violent behavior are issues in several of our parks, particularly in the downtown core, making for an unsafe and unwelcome environment.

Significance for the Plan

Increased resources will be added to improve park and facility security. These may include security guards, security cameras, increased ranger patrols, and increased park programming.

OPARD will continue to work closely with the Olympia Police Department, Downtown Ambassador Program, Artesian Leadership Committee, Olympia Downtown Association and other community groups to foster positive behavior in Olympia’s parks.

2. Public Demand for New Parks Exceeds Resources

Many of the most desired new parks projects in Olympia will cost tens of millions of dollars each. These “mega projects” include rebuilding the remaining phases of Percival Landing, completing the final phases of the Olympia Woodland Trail, acquiring and demolishing the empty nine-story Capitol Center building on the Isthmus, acquiring the LBA Woods open space adjacent to LBA Park, developing West Bay Park and Trail and acquiring and developing an athletic field complex. When surveyed about which one of these projects was the most important, no single project rose to the top.

View Figure 3.1 Random Sample Survey Results – Prioritization of Large Projects

Source: City of Olympia Resident Priorities for Parks, Arts & Recreation, April, 2015, p. 27.

Significance for the Plan

Even with projected revenue from the recently passed Olympia Metropolitan Park District, the City’s sources of revenue for parks are insufficient to implement all of these “mega projects” in the near-term. A phased approach will be necessary to achieve these community goals.

3. Population Growth Creating Demand for New Park Land

Today Olympia’s population is estimated at 51,020. Outside the city limits, but within Olympia’s Urban Growth Area (UGA), reside another 11,920 people. The total combined population in 2015 is estimated to be 62,940. During the next twenty years, the population of Olympia and its UGA are expected to grow to 84,400, an increase of over 21,000 people. Figure 3.2 illustrates the population forecast to 2035.

View Figure 3.2 Population Esitmates Olympia Planning Area

Source: Thurston Regional Planning Council: Small Area Population Estimates and Population and Employment Forecast Work Program, 2014.

Population is a key factor used to project needs for future parks, arts and recreation programs and facilities. The planning area for this study includes Olympia’s city limits and Urban Growth Area. The purpose of including the growth areas is to plan for areas that are anticipated to be annexed into the City.

Significance for the Plan

Increases in population will drive the demand for additional facilities, programs, maintenance and services.

With increasing growth, the availability of land for parks, open space, and trails will decrease.

A significant portion of the new growth in the region is occurring outside the Olympia city limits. This regional growth will continue to create demand for city parks and services.

As density increases and more residents are living in households with very small or no yards, there is a greater reliance on parks to provide for recreational activities that were once done at home. This includes community garden space, off-leash dog areas, open grassy areas and urban forest.

4. Percival Landing Needs to be Replaced

Percival Landing, built in three phases from 1977 thru 1988, is deteriorating. In 2011, the City replaced about 700 feet (of approximately 5,000 feet of existing boardwalk) leaving over 4,000 feet of original wooden boardwalk remaining. Annual inspections and follow-up repairs have served to keep the Landing open and safe for the past several years. Marine engineers estimate that the cost of temporary repairs will grow exponentially over time.

Significance for the Plan

Percival Landing is one of Olympia’s signature attractions and most popular parks. It provides public access to the waterfront. It draws thousands of visitors and residents annually and is a significant economic draw for downtown. Replacing Percival Landing is expensive and will need to be implemented in phases as funding allows. (See p. 37 for more information on Percival Landing).

5. Invasive Species Threaten Olympia’s Open Spaces

Olympia is fortunate to have a park inventory that includes over 800 acres of open space, natural areas set aside to protect the special natural character of Olympia’s landscape. From the mature forests and streams of Priest Point Park and Watershed Park, to the wetland and riparian habitat at Grass Lake and Mission Creek Nature Parks, Olympia has several special places set aside for humans and wildlife alike. The habitat value of these areas is increasingly threatened by invasive species such as English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom, and knotweed. These non-native species choke out native plants, degrading the habitat value of these open space areas. This may eventually prevent healthy forest development and impair the ability of these areas to protect stream and wetlands

Significance for the Plan

Despite hundreds of volunteers contributing thousands of hours annually eradicating invasive species through the Parks Stewardship Program, this problem appears to be getting worse each year rather than better. Without greater resources to tackle this problem, the habitat value of Olympia’s open space areas will continue to degrade.

Conclusion

Olympia and its residents have changed since 2010 when the last Parks, Arts, and Recreation Plan was written. From an increase in population, to increasing focus on park safety and security, these changes have great significance to the programs and facilities that OPARD will provide during the next twenty years. A creative approach will be necessary to address these challenges. In the following chapters, you will read about a vision for adapting to these changes.