To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Kristin Read, Assistant Town Manager
Jeff Brauer, Parks and Recreation Director
Title
Resolution Naming the New Neighborhood Park in the Plum Creek North Neighborhood Emerald Park
Body
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Executive Summary
This summer and fall, Town staff gathered input related to naming the Plum Creek north park. Nearly 500 open-ended suggestions and 230 naming preferences were expressed via an online questionnaire. Among the suggestions and preferences, Emerald Park emerged as a top choice.
A Town staff naming committee reviewed all of the feedback submitted and recommended to the Parks and Recreation Commission that the park be named Emerald Park or a variant thereof. The Commission met on October 18 and unanimously supported the name Emerald Park. Therefore, staff is recommending the park be named Emerald Park.
Discussion
The Town’s facility naming policy says the “goal in selecting names for Town facilities shall be primarily to advance fostering a sense of community and small-town character. This includes names which heighten the awareness of Town history, celebrate the natural environment and call attention to points of pride in our community, to people, events and geography that have shaped the Town, create our sense of place and make our community unique. It is recognized that there will be instances in which names regarding a special tribute, a memorial, a geographic feature or a modern neighborhood name may be appropriate.”
The online form offered seven potential names, three of which contained the word Emerald - the street on which the future park will be located. The three names containing the word Emerald were the top three preferences, garnering support from 92 (Emerald Park), 54 (Emerald View Park) and 29 (Emerald Valley Park) respondents, for a total of about 76% of respondents preferring an Emerald-containing name.
Looking at the open-ended responses, Emerald Park or variants thereof, Plum Creek Park and Rock View Park emerged as top suggestions. The Town already has a Plum Creek Park, as well as a Rock Park, so the staff committee believes a more unique, Emerald-containing name is most appropriate - especially given the preferences expressed in reaction to the list of potential names.
Reviewing all of the options submitted and considering the natural features and geography of the future park’s location, staff recommended naming the park either Emerald Park or a more descriptive variant like Emerald Hill Park or Emerald Point Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission considered this recommendation on October 18 and voted 6-0 to recommend that Council name the park Emerald Park.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends naming the park in Plum Creek north Emerald Park.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title.”
Alternate Motions
“I move to approve the resolution, with the following changes:___”
“I move to continue this item to the meeting on [date] to allow time for: ___”
Attachment
Attachment A: Resolution