SR-303-012 (5)
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City Council Report
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2006
Agenda Item: Se.
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Barbara Stinchfield, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Subject:
Naming of New Parks Located on Euclid Street and at the Santa Monica
Airport on Airport Avenue
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council select names for the two new parks now under
construction on Euclid Street and on Airport Avenue at the Santa Monica Airport.
Executive Summary
In accordance with City policy adopted by the City Council in July 2002 (Attachment 1),
the Recreation & Parks Commission has received public input and formulated
recommendations for names of two new parks scheduled to open in 2007. The City
Council must now review the recommendations and select a name for each park under
consideration. Once names have been approved, staff will complete signage and
prepare for the opening of each park. The 8.3-acre, multi-use park on Airport Avenue is
expected to open in January 2007 and the small neighborhood park on Euclid Street is
expected to open in April 2007.
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Discussion
Backqround
Staff has conducted public input processes for the naming of each park. The public
was invited to participate in online polls that were promoted via the City's website and
CityTV. Public input was also solicited by email and U.S. mail. Public hearing notices for
the Recreation and Parks Commission meetings were also available at various City
locations and announcements were placed in local newspapers. These invitations for
public input resulted in 119 different park name suggestions for the park on Euclid
Street, and 81 names for the park on Airport Avenue (see Attachment 2).
The Recreation & Parks Commission took public comment on the Euclid Street park
names on April 20, 2006, and recommended six names for the City Council's
consideration as follows:
. Euclid Park
. Euclid Street Park
. Euclid Community Park
. Community Park
. PlayShade Park
. Rosa Parks Park of Peace
The Commission reviewed suggested names for the park on Airport Avenue on September 21,
2006, and unanimously recommended the name "Airport Park".
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Previous Council Actions
Concept design plans for the new park located on Airport Avenue were approved by
City Council on October 14, 2003 and the construction contract was awarded by the
City Council on May 10, 2005. City Council approved concept design plans for the
new park on Euclid Street on June 14, 2005, and awarded the construction contract on
July 11, 2006. Following review and approval of the concept designs for each park, City
Council directed staff to solicit public comment on name suggestions.
Budqet/Financiallmpact
The selection of names for the two parks will have no fiscal impact.
Attachments:
1. City Council Naming Guidelines
2. Suggested Park Names for Both Parks
Prepared by:
Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director, Community & Cultural Services
Brett Horner, Senior Analyst, Community & Cultural Services
@~
Barbara Stinchfield
Director, Department of Community and
Cultural Services
Fo
d to Council:
Approved:
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Attachment 1
City Council Naming Guidelines
Adopted July 9, 2002
In naming public land and buildings, the City Council and its advisory bodies shall
consider the following:
. Incorporating "Santa Monica" in the name where it is important for civic or other
reasons for a building or facility to be identified with the city;
. Recognizing geographic, topographic or historical features or events associated
with Santa Monica;
. Commemorating persons who have served the city in an exceptional manner;
. Commemorating persons who have served the state, nation, or world In an
exceptional manner and who have an association with the city;
. Commemorating persons who have served the state, nation, or world In an
exceptional or distinguished manner where the contribution is of such major
significance that a local association wanes in importance;
. Commemorating individuals or organizations who have made important
donations of land, funds or materials, equipment and/or facilities;
. Avoiding recognition of those whose contribution has been appropriately
recognized in other city venues or by other means.
. The city will not name any buildings, land or facilities after current office holders.
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Suggested Names for the Park on Airport Avenue
Multiple suggestions are shown in ( )
Top 8 Suqqestions
Airport Park (9)
Cloudster Park (5)
Propeller Park (3)
Aero Park (2)
Aviation Park (2)
Airfield Park (2)
DC-3 Park (2)
Earhart Park (2)
Individuals
Joseph Chapman - see description below
William Jefferson Clinton Park
Bessie Coleman Park - see description below
Donald Douglas Memorial Airpark
Donald Douglas Memorial Park
Hughes Park (presumed for Howard Hughes)
James Dean Aero Dream Fields
Jimmy Doolittle Park
Earhart Park (Amelia Earhart) (2)
Eddie Lopez Park
McDonnell Park
Susan McCarthy Park
Nat and Ida Trives Park
Earhardt Park
Waldo Dean Waterman Memorial Park - see description below
Strider Wiselewski Park - see description below
Wright Bros. Park
Wright Park
Orville and Wilbur Wright Park
Other
Air Lane Park
Airplane Park
Aero Fields Park
Aerodrome Park
Beacon Park
Biplane Park
Bundy Park
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. Attachment 2
Chip Park
City Flyer Park
Cloudster Clearing Park
Cloverfield Park
Coast View Park
Crest View Park
Evergreen Fields Park
Excursion Park
Flyaway Field Park
Flyaway Park
Gateway Park
Green Acres at Santa Monica Airport Park
Gulfstream Park
Hanger Park
Kidport Park of Santa Monica
Mar View Park
Monica Meadows Park
National Park of Santa Monica
Pacific View Park
People's Park of Santa Monica
Pilot Park
Plane Field Park
Plane View Park
POP Park
Runway Park
Santa Monica Airfield Park
Santa Monica Air Cloudster Park
Santa Monica Airpark
Santa Monica Airport Historical Flights Park
Santa Monica Aviation History Park
Santa Monica Douglas South Park
Santa Monica Vista Park
Sarno Douglas Park
SAMO Park
Side Park
Sky Park
South Side Park
SOSMA Place Park
Spruce Goose Park
Take-Off Park
Take Flight Park
Vista Park
West Crest Park
Wests ide Aviation Park
Windsock Park
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Wing Walker Park
Wings Park
Background Information on Individuals
Note: all information below is reprinted as submitted by members of the public.
Joseph Chapman Park
The first American to settle in California was a pirate named Joseph Chapman. He was
a hunted pirate in 1818 who was captured along with five crew members. But Joseph
Chapman was a remarkable man and when the Commandant found out his prisoner
was a highly skilled artisan, blacksmith, carpenter and ship builder he was sent to aid
the San Gabriel fathers to build the Plaza Church on Olvera Street. His crewmates were
sent to Mexico for trial for piracy, a capital offense. Joseph redeemed himself in the
community with his skills, was naturalized as a Mexican citizen and married Guadalupe
Ortega, the daughter of one of the founding ranchero families. (The first duo citizen
could well be Mr. Chapman.) Their children became doctors, lawyers, bankers and real
estate brokers in the Los Angeles area. The Chapman building at Broadway and Eighth
Street was named for the family.
He built a ship called the "Danube" which was shipwrecked on Christmas Eve in 1828.
The brig crashed on rocks near Dead Mans Island due to Santa Anna Winds, but all 28
crew members including Joseph survived. The boats hull was purchased by the San
Gabrielle Mission for timber and iron salvage. (The first "Green" construction!). Joseph
used the $1780 and other new materials, to build a commercial Schooner named
"Guadalupe" of 60-99 tons which was launched in 1831.
Joseph Chapman died in 1849 leaving a rich heritage after 30 years of dedication to the
roots of this area. As a patron of the community he was a highly respected man, who
rose from a buccaneer and freebooter.
I feel it is highly in the spirit of Santa Monica to honor this man who turned his life
around and used his skills to establish a home and business in the
community. Although, Joseph was a pirate and basically a homeless criminal; he gave
much to the founding and establishment of the area. It speaks for the value potential of
every human being to our city. Santa Monica was later founded in 1875 and
as the oceanfront to the Los Angeles area, it seems fitting and proper that we establish
a park in his honor. To commemorate his contributions, Santa Monica could hold a
"Pirate Day" as a community event on the day of the parks opening next spring and
annually thereafter.
I therefore submit the name of Joseph Chapman Park."
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Bessie Coleman Park
"Here's my idea for Airport Park name: Bessie Coleman Park.
Sort of like Rosie's Girls, it would send a message to SM girls (and boys, too) that you
can pursue and reach any dream. Not to mention that it would be in honor of women
and African-Americans -- while keeping a connection to the Airport. Check out the link
at the end of this article for more info.
World's first African-American woman pilot honored with U.S. Stamp
By Agnes Barr
A brief ceremony hosted by the Des Moines, Iowa, International Airport honored Bessie
Coleman, the first woman to earn an International Aviation License and the world's first
licensed black aviator. The Bessie Coleman Commemorative is the 18th in the U.S.
Postal Service Black Heritage series.
During the ceremonies, Richard Watkins of the postal service in St. Louis, presented
framed enlargements of the Bessie Coleman Stamp to William Flannery, Des Moines
airport director, and to me as a representative of The Ninety-Nines Iowa Chapter.
Members Jane Walter and Martha Matthews also attended.
Bessie Coleman was born in Texas in 1892. During World War I, she read about the air
war in Europe. She became interested in flying and became convinced she should be
up there, not just reading about it. She started looking for a flying school but what she
didn't realize was that she had two strikes against her: She was a woman and she was
black.
She heard that Europe had a more liberal attitude toward women and people of color so
she learned to speak French and earned enough money to go to Paris to get her
license. She encountered many problems but would not let go of her dream and earned
her license on June 15, 1921 from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale She
returned to the U.S. and began teaching other black women to fly, giving lectures and
performing at flying exhibitions.
As she gained increasing fame as a barnstorming air circus performer in a war-surplus
Jenny Trainer, she became known as "Queen Bessie." On April 30, 1926, while
practicing for a show in Orlando, Florida, she was thrown from the plane and fell to her
death.
To learn more about this early aviator, visit Bessie Colman.com"
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Waldo Dean Waterman Memorial Park
"Dear sir or madam:
This is my suggested name for the 8.3-acre park now under construction on the south
side of Santa Monica Airport:
Waldo Dean Waterman Memorial Park
Waldo Dean Waterman (1894-1976) was a pioneer aviator, inventor, and aero engineer
who is closely associated with Santa Monica. His most notable contributions to aviation
were the first tailless monoplane (the precursor to the flying wing), the first aircraft with
modern tricycle landing gear and the first successful flying car.
Just after WWI he moved to Santa Monica where he established the Waterman Aircraft
Manufacturing Company.
In 1929 Waterman built the first tailless monoplane. With the tailless Whatsit he also
introduced modern tricycle landing gear. Some consider the Whatsit to be the first flying
wing.
During the late 1930s Waterman formed the Waterman Arrowplane Corporation in
Santa Monica to develop a roadable version of the aircraft. The new Arrowbile was a
high-wing monoplane with detachable wings powered by a Studebaker engine. Its
design was a major step for Waterman toward achieving the overall goal of an airplane
that had automobile characteristics and was also easy to fly.
He built and flew five Arrowbiles. Three Arrowbiles attempted a flight from Santa Monica
to Ohio but one had to turn back after only reaching Arizona. The other two finished the
flight. Arrowbile No. 6 (No. 5 was never completed) is awaiting display at the
Smithsonian Institute.
Several web pages are devoted to Waldo's contributions to Santa Monica and American
civil aviation history:
http://en . wikiped ia. org/wiki/Waldo _Waterman
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraftlwaterman_what.htm
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraftlwaterman.htm
http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/AERO/waterman.htm
See: Waterman, Waldo. Waldo: Pioneer Aviator - A Personal History of American
Aviation. Carlisle, MA: Arsdalen Bosch & Co, 1988.
Thank you, for your consideration of my suggestion."
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Strider Wiselewski Park
"Name it after Santa Monica's most famous surfer. You had Jay Adams but he fails in
comparison to the now famous clean living good guy and Santa Monica's world class
favorite sun surfer, Strider Wiselewski."
Suggested names for the park on Euclid Street
Multiple suggestions are shown in ( )
Top 3 Suqqestions
Central Park (3)
Euclid Park (3)
Rick Crocker (Memorial) Park (3)
Santa Monica or Location-related
Hacienda Park (2)
Mid-City Park (2)
Euclid Street Park
The City of Santa Monica's Resident Park
Samo Park
Eucolbro Park
Broadway/Euclid/Colorado Park
Broadrado Park
Broadarado Park
BEC City Park (for Broadway, Euclid, and Colorado)
Santa Monica Oceans Park
Mid-Town Park
Family Mid-Town Park
Middle Park
Broadway-Mid-Town Park
Center Park
Santa Monica Freedom Park
Broadway Park
Park Avenue Park
Santa Monica Mission Park
Santa Monica Euclid Park
Park Euclid
Santa Monica Park
Colorado Park
EI Medio Park
La Media Park
Cobo Park
Euclid/Washington Carver Park
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Heal the Bay Park at Euclid & Broadway
Heal the Bay Park
Heal the Bay Park in Santa Monica
Euclid Elements Park
Euclid at Broadway Park
Euclid/Broadway Park
Santa Monica's Founder Park
Santa Monica's Forefather's Park
Santa Monica's Patriarch's Park
Euclid 13 Park
Euclid Street Park
Santa Monica Gateway to the Ocean Park
Gateway of Santa Monica Park
Santa Monica Hippo Park
118 Degree Park
Park 118
Santa Monica Park 325
Santa Monica Community Park
Santa Monica Kids Park
Santa Monica Children's Park
Evergreen Euclid Park
Individuals
Frankie Gaye Park (2)
Rosa Parks Park (2)
Ysidro Reyes Park (2)
Rosa Parks Park of Peace
John P. Jones Park
James Keane Park
Marquez Park
Natalie Michele Moorings-Ross Memorial Park
Eddie Lopez Memorial Park
Pelcyger Park (after P.S. 1 school founder)
Tranquility Park (and dedicated to the memory of Eddie Lopez)
Surf Rider Park or Surf Park (in honor of Dan Bendiksen)
Jerry Lewis Park
Matthew's Park
Elfie Masse Park
James Conn Park
Dorothy Green Park -- (Founder of Heal the Bay)
Rosa Park -- (Rosa Parks)
Park Chung Hee -- (South Korean leader, 1961-1979)
Bert Park -- (Bert Parks)
Chris Penn Park -- (actor)
Frankie T. Gaye Park -- (Marvin Gaye's brother, lived in SM for 25 years)
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Cyril Wood Park -- (Monsignor at St. Anne's Church from 1951-1987)
Susan McCarthy Park
Anjelica Huston Park
Randy Rhoades Park (rock guitarist born in SM)
Robert Redford Park
Other
Green Island Park
Isle of Green Park
Green Oasis Park
Veteran's Park
Veteran Memorial Park
Memorial Park
Homeless Park
Shotgun House Park
Shark Park
Community Park
PlayShade Park
Emerald Park
Oceans City Park
Green City Park
Compassion Park
Trombella Park
Victory Park
Solartown Park
Sunnyville Park
Smoker's Park
Ecotown Park
Ecopark
Inspiration Park
Hillflower Park
Green Grass Park
The Play Park
Rockwood Park
Neighborhood Park
Greenville Park
Glam Park
South Park
Valle Park (Valles of Jalisco)
Oasis
Millennium Park
Noa Park
Washington Carver at Euclid Park
Park Rules
National Park
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Central Park
Park Here
Hippo Park
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