DATE:
September 26, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT:
Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations For Naming Of A New City Park Recommendation
Please consider the attached list of five recommendations for the naming of a new City Park.
Background
Currently, there is no official naming process for new parks. However, the City does have Council Policy 001 Naming/Dedication of City Facilities which aims to establish policies, responsibilities, and procedures associated with naming and dedicating City facilities.
POLICY
General. The policy of the City is to name facilities in a manner that will provide an easy and recognizable reference for the City’s visitors. Therefore, naming options will always consider a name based on the facility’s geographic location. However, the policy also established conditions for the consideration of naming options based on other factors.
Geographic Location. Whenever possible, all City facilities will be named for their geographic location. The geographic location may be based on the identification of the facility with a specific place, neighborhood, major street, regional area of the City or the City itself if the facility is deemed to serve the entire community.
Other Considerations. Consideration of names for facilities may also include a prominent form of topography, a prominent plant, bush or tree and historical precedent.
This new neighborhood park will be at the former Sherwin Williams location on the corner of Horton St. and Hubbard St. In the late 1910s, the Sherwin Williams Paint Company developed a series of industrial plants between Park Ave and the Southern Pacific Railroad that remained a predominant fixture in the Emeryville community for nearly 100 years. As the times have changed, so too have the desires and will of the people of Emeryville. This new park will offer a wide variety of amenities including a play area, lawn, half-court basketball court, community garden and much more. The park will integrate with the greenway and provide wide pathways, additional walking loops, and numerous places to sit and enjoy nature.
Discussion
At the September 5, 2023, City Council meeting, the Council designated an ad hoc committee that included two members of the Parks and Recreation Committee: Patty Weber and Gail Donaldson, as well as two City Council Members: Vice Mayor Welch and Council Member Mourra as part of a process to select a name for the new city park at The Emery housing development. Staff had previously reached out to the Emeryville community to solicit name suggestions from August 17 - September 5, 2023, and received over 90 suggestions.
The Ad Hoc Committee met on September 19, 2023, to review the public’s suggestions and recommend five names from the list for the City Council’s consideration at its September 26, 2023, Council meeting. Below are the five (5) names being recommended by the ad-hoc committee in addition to the full list of proposed names provided as an attachment. The Committee did not assign a ranking to the top five list provided.
Park Name Recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee:
1 Emery Green
2 Huichin Park
3 Paintbrush Park
4 Railroad Park (Sherwin*)
5 Hokan Hubbard Park
Fiscal Impact
None at this time.
Staff Communication with the Public
Staff engaged with the Emeryville community through the City’s website, social media channels, and the Notify Me platform, requesting name suggestions from 8/17/23 to 9/5/23. The Ad Hoc committee met on9/19/23 to discuss the suggested names and recommended five names for the Council’s consideration.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council choose a name from those recommended by the ad-hoc committee.
PREPARED BY: Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
List of all Park names submitted
Ad Hoc Committee- New Park Name
City Council Meeting | September 26, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM