MEETING OF 11/7/2005, AGENDA ITEM NO. 7. A . 1 .
Agenda
Report
TO:
CITY COUNCIL
DATE:
November 7, 2005
FROM:
CITY MANAGER
RE:
RECOMMENDED NAME CHANGE FOR EATON-WASH PARK
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve a change in name from
Eaton Wash Park to
Viña Vieja Park.
RECOMMENDATION
OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION:
At the Recreation and Park Commission meeting of October 4, 2005 the
commission voted 4-1
to support the recommendation to change the name of Eaton Wash Park to
Viña Vieja Park.
BACKGROUND:
During the planning stages and development of Eaton Wash Park,
currently under construction
at 2036 East Orange Grove Blvd., several members of the neighborhood
surrounding the park
had raised concerns that the name "Eaton Wash" is confusing. They
support a change in name
because there are two other parks in Pasadena with "Eaton" in their
names: Eaton Sunnyslope
Park and Eaton Blanche Park. In addition, there is another significant
park in the area, Eaton
Canyon Park located in nearby Altadena.
As more discussion of the existing name continued, the neighbors
indicated they would like a
name that offers historical significance to the area surrounding the
park. Some neighbors have
ties back to the days before the northern portion was developed and
recall that the area where
the park is now located was referred to as "La Viña", because
the vacant land had remnants of
grape vines. The memories of the vineyard in this area and the children
playing in "La Viña", led
the East Eaton Wash Neighborhood Association to recommend that the park
be named Viña
Vieja Park, which means the old vineyard. This new name provides a
unique identity for the
park while providing the historical significance sought by the
surrounding neighbors.
Staff has received additional recommendations for names for the new
park. The first of which is
Twombly Park in honor of Fred Eugene Twombly, a water pioneer of
Pasadena. Diana Twombly
has presented the history of her great grandfather, Fred Twombly, at
past Recreation and Parks
Commission which highlighted his career in Pasadena with a membership
on the original
Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Mr. Twombly was a City Trustee as
well as a City
Councilmember, where his significant contribution was launching the
Municipal Water Supply for
Pasadena. Recognizing his significance in Pasadena, the Department of
Water and Power
named a well located just to the south of the new park in his honor in
2003.
Another recommendation that has been received is that of the Alice
Frost Kennedy Park. The
off leash area of the park officially bears the name of Alice Frost
Kennedy for her significant
contribution to the City of Pasadena as a member of the Urban Forestry
Advisory Committee,
the street tree representative of the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation and
her love of animals.
Her family made a significant financial contribution to the park and
requested that that the off
leash area of the park be named the Alice Frost Kennedy Off-Leash Area.
The City Council
approved this request on July 16, 2001.
Finally, staff has received a recommendation that the park be named in
honor of the historical
Orange Groves of Pasadena, "Orange Grove Park.
The City of Pasadena's Public Park and Recreational Facility Naming
Policy requires the use of
the following criteria in determining the names for city parks and
recreational facilities:
a. Geographical location of the park or facility; or
b. Natural or geological features proximate to the park or facility; or
c. Cultural or historical significance to the City or surrounding
neighborhood; or
d. The name of an individual who has made significant contribution to
the
community, country, state, or the filed of parks and recreation.
The policy also requires that "Existing names shall not be subject to
change unless.. . the
proposed name is found to be more appropriate that the existing name..
."
After careful consideration of each proposed name change for Eaton Wash
Park, staff finds that
Viña Vieja Park best meets the criteria identified in the
policy. The name was proposed by
Vivian Perez, a 77 year resident of the neighborhood, and was voted
overwhelmingly as the top
choice of the East Eaton Wash Neighborhood Association, the
neighborhood association
representing the neighborhood to the east of our new park.
Prior to the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting of October 4, 2005
all residents within
1000 feet of the new park site (totaling 990 addresses) were notified
that a proposal to change
the name of Eaton-Wash Park would be considered by the Commission. The
same notification
has been given to these same addresses in preparation for this
evening's City Council meeting.
FISCAL
IMPACT:
There would be no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of this
recommendation. The
costs associated with park signage are budgeted in capital project
78289 (Eaton Wash Park -
Implement Master Plan) and would not be impacted by this action.
Respectfully submitted:
CYNTHIA KURTZ
CITY MANAGER
Reviewed by:
Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
Prepared by:
Kathleen Woods, Administrator
Parks and Natural Resources
(Following the staff report is a scanned copy of a handwritten note
stamped as received by the city clerk on Oct 31, '05 which just
says: )
October 21, 2005
Kathleen Woods,
I like to give my opinion regarding
the name change of the Eaton Wash Park
to Viña Vieja Park. My opinion is do not
change the name, please
(signature)