Creekside Open Space Proposed Renaming

Creekside Open Space Proposed Renaming Community Meeting

Creekside Open Space Proposed Renaming

Virtual Community Meeting November 5, 2020

Jen Santos Deputy Director - Parks

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Meeting Agenda

• Welcome and Meeting Overview • Renaming Request Proposal • Park System Overview • Creekside Open Space • Current Park Naming Policy & Procedure • Community Polls • Question & Community Input Live via Zoom Meeting Panelists: • Jen Santos, Deputy Director – Parks • Travis Berding - Community Member

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History

• 4/25/18 – Travis Berding requested renaming to Mary M. Traverso Park • 5/23/18 – BOCS discussed request • 9/19/18 – Fire season cancelled meeting and staffing changes put request on hold • 01/22/20 – Staff reported to BOCS. BOCS recommended proposed renaming and requested community input.

• 11/05/20 – Virtual community meeting

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• Content

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Northeast Northwest

Southeast

Southwest 6

Santa Rosa Parks System

City of Santa Rosa Quadrant Map

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Parks System by the Numbers Park Type

Number

Acreage

Community Park

14

526

Neighborhood Park

58

166

Special Use Park

4

171

Recreation Center

9

11

Open Space

13

115

Trail Park

6

34

Public Gathering Areas/Plaza

5

9

109

1032

TOTAL

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Park Type Classification • Open Space

• Serve recreational needs of the entire community • Integrated into many of the City’s parks (no specific acreage required) • Minimal improvements • Benches • Picnic tables • Trash cans

• Provide passive recreation, visual enjoyment, conservation, watershed protection, hazard reduction 10

Creekside Open Space

Examples of City of Santa Rosa’s open spaces

Parker Hill Open Space

Thomas Lake Harris Open Space

Creekside Open Space Aerial Map 3.63 acres

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Dog Waste Station

Bench Adopt-a-Park Sign Trash Can Birdhouse

Birdhouses

~1 acre

Mary M. Traverso Memorial Bench

~2.63 acres

Dog Waste Station

Birdhouses

Amenities Map

15 Mary Traverso’s Home

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Current City Council Policy 000-25 Park Naming Procedure & Policy

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Current Policy: Objectives

• Name enhances City’s values & heritage.

Compatible with community interest.

• To easily identify parks by geographic location/function • To encourage land/monetary donations & provide recognition 19

Current Policy:

• New parks will be named immediately.

• Parks cannot be named after a living person.

• Parks can be named to honor a deceased person who has made major contributions to community, country or field of recreation and parks.

• Site appropriate historical names can be used.

• Thematic names may be considered if the park or facility bears that theme.

• Memorial items are not permitted.

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Current Procedure: Change of Name

• A park or recreation facility name may be changed if the following conditions are met: A. Occurrence of event of national or local significance. A waiting period of no less than two (2) years between the event and the actual naming of the park is required.

OR B. If the name becomes inappropriate.

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Occurrence of National or Local Significance Mary M. Traverso

• Co-founded Bennett Valley Vision in 2005 • Organization received 2007 Merit Award for Neighborhood Enrichment

• Lived close by • Helped maintain Creekside Open Space • Traverso’s Market - 80 years • Honorary bench donated in 2016

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Staff Findings

• Mary M. Traverso was active in the community and inspired volunteerism.

• She is loved by her family and known in the community from Traverso’s Market

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City Council Policy 000-25 Park Naming Procedure & Policy update

The Creekside Open Space renaming request is the final (re)naming request that the City will consider until Council Policy 000-25 is updated by the BOCS and approved by City Council.

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Current Policy: Need for Update

• What are the requirements for requesting a park name?

• How frequently can a park’s name be changed?

• Who bears the cost associated with (re)naming?

• Is community support needed to (re)name a park?

• How are an individual, organization or business’ service contributions measured?

• How is an event of national or local significance measured?

• Can a park be named after a business?

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Next Steps:

• Add community polls to project website for two weeks.

• https://www.srcity.org/Park-Projects

• Share community feedback at future BOCS meeting & receive BOCS recommendation • Wednesday, December 9, 2020 @ 4pm • https://www.srcity.org/1294/Board-of-CommunityServices

• BOCS recommendation to City Council • City Council review and approval • Update City media with new name

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