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SR-303-021 (4) e .- ~CitYOf Santa Monicaoo 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. 1 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". 2 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: 3 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. 4 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 5 . 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 6 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." 7 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" 8 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." 9 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 10 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) 11 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 12 Central Park Park Here Hippo Park 13