Title
Discuss Ideas for Marketing Campaign of Potential Park Names
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Discuss Ideas for Marketing Campaign of Potential Park Names
BACKGROUND
At its April 12, 2018 meeting, the Recreation and Parks Commission received two written communications related to naming or re-naming parks. One was a request to rename Jackson Park to Justice Park. The second was to name a new, yet-to-be-built park at Alameda Landing Waterfront, to Bohol Circle Park.
At its May 10, 2018 meeting, the Commission discussed the City Naming Policy and the two park naming requests further and directed staff to provide a baseline of criteria for naming parks as well as historical background on Jackson Park from an Alameda historical source, such as Alameda Museum or the College of Alameda.
At its June 14, 2018 meeting, the Commission agreed to do an outreach campaign, on social media and other platforms, to generate a list of potential park names. The Commission would then discuss the names offered by the community and recommend a specific set of names to the Historical Advisory Board and then the City Council for final approval. This list could then be utilized anytime there is a new park requiring a name or a decision to rename a park. It is a similar process that is utilized for street names with a list of available street names that are then recommended to City Council for final approval. See Exhibit 1 for the City’s Naming Policy.
DISCUSSION
The City’s Naming Policy lists specific criteria for selecting the name for a City property, facility or street (Section C of Exhibit 1). These include:
1. A name that reflects the Iocation of the facility by geographic area;
2. A name that reflects the history of a facility such as the family name of the builder developer or person who may have donated the land when the individual has been deceased a minimum of three years;
3. A name that recognizes a significant contributor to the advancement of the City such as a former Mayor Councilmember Board or Commission Member officers or employees of the City or member of the community when the individual has been deceased a minimum of three years;
4. A name that recognizes the donor of a significant gift of land or funds for a City facility;
5. A name that is listed on the List of Street and Facility Names of the City of Alameda.
Exhibit 2 is the approved list of names for city facilities and streets. In addition, the Commission agreed at its June 14, 2018 meeting that it would be appropriate to include additional parks and recreation related categories including:
§ Coaches & athletes
§ Service groups
§ Natural features
§ Historical features, such as from Neptune Beach roller coaster
This list of names could come from a public input process to solicit name ideas through online and paper surveys, which will then determine which names are of interest to the larger Alameda community. The Commission would then make a final recommendation of a list of park names to the HAB for consideration. If approved, the City Council would be responsible for the final approval of the name.
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss and brainstorm ideas for a marketing campaign to generate a list of potential park names
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Policy for Naming City Property and Facilities
2. City Approved Names List