The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1990-06-18; City Council; 690-8; Policy Re: Naming of Park SitesPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL DEPT. POLICY REGARDING THE NAMING OF PARK SITES (ACTION) DEPT. HD. CITY ATTY CITY MGR. RECOMMENDED ACTION: If the Commission concurs, assign Commission members to a subcommittee to establish a policy regarding the naming of park sites. ITEM EXPLANATION; During the May 1990 Commission meeting, this issue was requested to be brought back before the Commission to discuss the policy or criteria used in establishing the name of park sites. After staff investigation, it has been determined that no policy or specific criteria exists in determining the names for park sites. Therefore, staff is recommending to form a subcommittee to recommend a policy to the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the naming of Parks. Attached for general information (Exhibit 1) is a booklet distributed by the National Recreation and Park Association entitled, "Naming of Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities." EXHIBITS; 1. N.R.P. A. Pamphlet 058 Bulletin No. 64 NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES By ALFRED B. LaGASSE 059 EXHIBIT 1 Naming of Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities BulUtin No. 64 '4 •1 by ALFRED B. UGASSE Encuiir* Oinelor «nd Genual Manager National Raeraation >nd Park AuocUhon, Inc. Copyriflhl, National lUerration and Park AnoeiaHen, Inc., August, 1966 060 NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. OO10AY PARK, WHEELING, WEfT VnOINIA OFFICERS 1968 BOARD OF TRUSTEES PncideBj ChoJnaaa LAURANCE S. ROCKEFELLER Bend ol Trustees Rockefeller Plan JAMES H. EVANS, Pre.id.nl New York, New York Th» Seamen's Bank for Savings New York, New York bonfire Vim PtotUoai JOSEPH PRENDERGAST 8 Wort Eighth Street New York, New York Vie* Preddeat Vteo President ClMilmui, Board ol Dbceton Chafamu, Beard ol GoTernon LUTHER GULICK FRANK VAYDtK, Superintendent oi Pmrki tnitltute oi Public Adniniitrihon Board of Park Commissioner! New York, New York Kansas City, Missouri Vice ChaJTBiaa Vice Cbairmaa Board oi Director* Board oi QoTemors SANGER P. ROBINSON, Vice President SIDNEY LUTZDf, Regional Director Ditto, Inc. New York State Youth Commission Chicaflo, Ulinols Albany, New York NORBORNE BERKELEY, Jr., Vice President Chemical Bank Now York Trust Company Now York, Now York ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD Chatmao. Vleo Chaimaa IANK McINNIS, Director CONRAD L. WIRTH, Trustee Detroit Zoological Park American Conservation Association Boral Oak, Michigan Now York, Now York ALFRED B. LaCASSE Oglebar Park Wheeling, Woat 061 PablldMd br AM NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. OQLZBAT PARK, WHEIUNQ, WEST VtHGOOA opiM of thi« boflcUa u« reiUbU Iknmgh ft. R*t*Brch ud EdoolioMl DiTirioB el UM NattoMl BMtration tad Puk AMaeUUea, be., Puk, WbMliBB, WM* VUginU, it Siagl* eopU« — Mtmb«n Singl* oepiN — Mi»« minimi 10 eepiM or mot* ;.. 21 eepici or aera M .$1.00 pw copy .$2.00 p«t copy 20V. dbemnt S8V. diteeul WV. dtoeomt to OM RMMioh u>4 IdmHoa 062 NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN a. H. ABBBNBTKY Director, Special Servicei Seotioa DeputawBi oi tutu and Hecreatten Ceutr oi lei Aa0*l«, California COMMITTEE MEMBERS BOBBBT t. BUBOAN CHABLES B. CAMPBEU Dtowtor Puk and Baenatfea Oinelor Pufcf ud BwrMUon 3220 Bottate OanUa Drir* 400 Harqurtt. NW Forth Worth, Trau 7HOI Alhaqaenpi*, New Mexico WUUAM B. BIBO THOMAB I. MNM SnperiBtoadent of Pub Held Metropolitan DwU Coaarr Puk Deputmeot oi Secretion ud HecmiioB Depulmenl «ad Puk AHmliriitrirlon M S.W. 32nd Boul North Cuolin Stale Uahrenilr Mind, Horid. 33129 103 Held Howe fUM0h, North CuottM 27M7 M. FOB NABUM IniiMliilaiiiliiilwwgv^MM^VBMVH* The Frank NewhaD look Ueawrial Puk 063 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE 6 INTRODUCTION 7 POLICY COMMITTMENTS 8 POLICY STATEMENT GUIDELINES 11 Classification 11 Agreements 13 "™ — J1 ^ Change of Name 13 J •4 Plaques and Markers 13 j Naming Sections 14 , Timing 14 - "* Contests 14 Dedications 14 HISTORICAL STATEMENT 14 TERMINOLOGY 16 SURVEY SUMMARY 17 064 PREFACE Very little has been written about the naming of recreation and park facilities. With the tremendous emphasis on land acquisition and new facility construction, the naming of areas and facilities is be- coming a matter of increasing concern to the administrator. There is no one uniform approach to this problem, however there _ are guidelines to follow and pitfalls to avoid. A park and recreation department can add meaning, significance and uniformity to its pro- perties by developing a well thought out naming policy thai embodies ^" ~ J\ > the values and heritage of the local community. > 4 •f This Management Aids has been prepared with the thought of . j stimulating the administrator's approach to this problem and of pro- ' > viding him with the experience reported by other communities on j the questions that most frequently arise in the selection of names. •£ We are grateful to the author, Alfred B. LaGasse, Executive Director and General Manager of the National Recreation and Park Association and to the Committee for their valuable assistance in reviewing the manuscript and contributing material to this Management Aid. FRANK VAYDIK, Vice President and Chairman, Board of Governors 065 Naming of Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities has a hero or heroine. We can point out the Patrick Henrys, Ihe Madame Curies, the George Washington*, men of great stature - - the Paul Banyans who actually lived and breathed on this earth. Within every normal child there is a spark of greatness and an appreciation of heritage. Reverence for our forefathers, which can be done by keep- ing their names alive, is not only constructive but a satisfying influence. Philanthropy generates the practice of naming properties after the giver. The park and recreation movement has been nurtured from its very beginning by civic minded individuals who have unselfishly given time and money. Naturally, it is appropriate that we recognize them. This manual is based on the premise that naming park and recrea- tion facilities can be most exciting and rewarding. There will be no attempt to explore further ramifications of naming areas and facilities since each community will have its own opportunities to do so ac- cording to its origin, historical development, and physical environment. Balance, diversity, and creativity are sought when the adoption of a name of a park or recreation facility is finalised. POLICY COMMITMENTS Surprisingly few park and recreation departments have developed policies regulating the naming of park and recreation areas. For ex- ample, one out of ten departments has written objectives, and a few, a little over 8 percent, have converted them into ordinances or placed them in resolution form. Without a sound policy for the naming of parks and recreation facilities, a certain amount of inconsistency can be expected. Expediency would tend to govern and, possibly, a lack of continuity would occur due to changing board members and administrators. There are questions thai arise from time to time based on the propriety of a naming decision. This happens most often when a property or facility has been named after a living person. There is a certain amount of debate concerning the naming of parks and facili- ties after political leaders. There are pros and con, but generally the practice is not accepted. Surprisingly, though, about 25 percent of the departments answering the questionnaire felt that it was not inap- propriate. Possibly the reason for the great difference between the actual and the permissive attitude of the practice rests with the criteria that apply particularly to political officials. The name of a living political official becomes acceptable when he has, magnani- mously, influenced the acquisition of property or through unselfish ef- 066 LaGasse 9 fort on his part, has given highly productive support to the park and recreation department. Many recreation and park administrators felt that it was more ap- propriate to honor deceased local officials, possibly because the living may change in attitude, change in direction, and undergo change in public esteem. It is also true thai although a person may be quite popular in one decade, he may be completely unknown in the next. It is difficult to judge present-day personalities in terms of the way history will react to them. It is interesting to note, in reading policy statements from different boards and commissions, that rather strong emphasis is placed on the prohibition clause excluding living persons from having their names applied to parks or recreation facilities. A typical clause is listed in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Park and Recreation Department policy statement on naming parks. It reads as follows: "No park shall be named for a living person, except when substantial donations in excess of the park dedication policy are offered to the city for park and rec- , realional purposes and wherein the donor stipulates a name as being " • "* a consideration of the donation. In such cases the park and recreation . J board shall have the prerogative of accepting or rejecting such an .f offer." ; A similar clause appears in the Washington State Park and ! Recreation Commission's policy, which states: "The naming of sites ' shall be a function of the Commission, it is further recommended that - , no park site be named for a living person unless the site has been ' '. donated by the individual. Priority in naming sites shall be given to geographical locations, historic significance, or geologic features." The Columbus, Ohio, statement is essentially the same, but takes a softer stand with an alternative and reads as follows: "When it seems appropriate to name a park in honor of a person, it should be one who has made a major contribution to the community and/or has been instrumental in acquiring the area. In most instances, the person should be honored posthumously." When administrators were asked whether it was appropriate to name park and recreation facilities after themselves, only one out of five felt that il was, but only one in ten felt that this should be done while the administrator was living. As an actual practice, naming park and recreation facilities for administrators is fairly common. It is a more common practice to select a park and recreation board member's name as a designation for park and recreation facilities than that of any of the other contributing'groups in local government 067 10 Naming oiPark» and Park and Recreation Facilities although local politicians were close behind. It is important also to note that over half of the municipalities answering the questionnaire felt that this practice is as it should be. Outstanding park and rec- reation board members, especially those with long tenure, should be honored. The proposal of naming park and recreation facilities after promi- nent citizens who are active in the government structure will have to be faced by every park and recreation board at one time or another. By establishing sound policies with definite criteria for selection, the proposal of an eligible dignitary's name can be treated in such a way as to serve the best interests of the public. When considering donations as justification for naming a park or facility after the donor, the criteria should indicate the minimum con- tribution in relation to the percentage of the total cost of the project or land. Any gift stipulating that the facility be named after the donor should be substantial enough to be considered by others as justifying the naming of the facility after the principal donor. Adoption of criteria for the consideration of people's names, especially living per- sonages, is a most difficult task in formulating policy guidelines. Be- cause of this and other sensitive policy areas, a review board becomes extremely important. Certainly a blue-ribbon committee of outstanding citizens should be a part of any selection process. The naming committee should consider the various circumstances and recommend rules for board action on such questions as: 1. Should facilities be named for the living? If so, under what circumstances? 2. For the deceased; and under what circumstances? 3. For members of the body politic/ and what conditions justify? 4. Should names of streets, neighborhoods, historic characters, trees, flowers, or other categories be used? Criteria should be developed for each. 5. Should donations of money, land or structures justify naming for the donor? If so, by what standard? 6. Should civic organisation names be used in naming parks or facilities? If so, under what conditions? If not, why not? 7. Should park or facility name* ever be changed? If so, under what justification? If not, why not? 8. Such a policy should be reviewed from time to time, and, if necessary, periodically revised to offer the naming committee a practical, up-to-date and helpful tool through which practical decisions may be reached and by which difficult situations may be amicably reconciled. 068 LaQasse II Thus a policy would be made up of criteria and classification of acceptable names, expanded to meet local needs and placed in the hands of a stable selection group. POLICY STATEMENT GUIDELINES CLASSIFICATION The first consideration in designing a policy statement should be classifications under which the proposed names would fall. The follow- ng general classifications might be used as a beginning/ however, this list is not all-inclusive. PERSONS' NAMES Small Donors Large Donors Historic Group Local War Heroes National War Heroes Board or Commission Member Combination Hero-Historic Person Park * Recreation Director State Official Local Official Civilian National Heroes National Official Other HISTORIC EVENT NAMES Battles Explorations Treaty Sighing Discoveries First Occurrences GREAT CAUSES Suffrage United Nations League of Nations RELIGIOUS NAMES Denominations Religious Orders These classes may not cover all the particular needs of your com- munity. The object is to classify and then develop criteria for each class as it is related to an over-all community function. A tone should be set. Some communities will want to emphasize one category and play down others. A region may abound in history or natural phenomena or great personages, and there is no reason why such factors should not dominate the naming process. PLACES AND FEATURE NAMES Recognizable Area or Neigh- borhood Assumed Name Natural Phenomena Combination of Natural Phe- nomena k Place Name Horticultural Combination Horticultural ft Place Rivers GREAT IDEAS Friendship Independence Peace MYTHOLOGICAL ft DESCRIP- TIVE NAMES Gods or Goddesses Descriptive ORGANIZATIONS Civic Fraternal Veterans Other 069 12 Naming oi Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities I. Prehistoric Hunters and Gatherers II. Early Indian Farmers III. Indian Villages and Communities IV. Spanish Exploration and Settlement Special Study: "Spanish Colonial Sites in the Panama Canal Zone" V. French Exploration and Settlement VI. English Exploration and Settlement to 1700 VII. Dutch and Swedish Exploration and Settlement VIII. Contact with the Indians IX. Development oi the English Colonies, 1700-1775 X. The War for Independence XI. The Advance of the Frontier, 1763-1830 Subtheme: The Lewis and Clark Expendition XII. Political and Military Affairs, 1783-1830 XIII. Political and Military Affairs, 1830-1860 XIV. The Civil War, 1861-1865 XV. Westward Expansion and Extension of the National Boundaries to the Pacific, 1830-1896 Subthemes: The Santa Fe Trail The Cattlemen's Empire The Fanning Frontier The Mining Frontier The Pacific, 1830-1896 Subthemes: Military and Indian Affairs Special Study: "Fort Bowie" The Texas Revolution and the War with Mexico, 1820-1953 The Fur Trade Era Overland Migrations of the Trans-Mississippi West Great Explorers of the West Transportation and Communication Special Study: - - The Hubbell Trading Post XVI. Indigenous Peoples and Cultures XVH. Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture XVni. Travel and Communication XIX. Development and Conservation of Natural Resources XX. Arts and Sciences XXI. Development of the United States to World Powerl 1. <hkUUM (Th« Pnk Practice Prognm), National Conferano* on Siate Parki, Washing- ton, D. C, July, 1999. Vol. I, ArtioU 17, pp. S, 6 070 13 AGREEMENTS In many instances there are stipulations connected with the naming of properties or facilities. As an example, a donor might include as part of the agreement the stipulation that the property be named after him or someone of his choosing. Such a restriction could and should be a part of the deed and could become a continuing obligation throughout the life of the property. There are other types of agree- ments. A group such as the Rotary Club or Kiwanis Club may ask, or be asked, to sponsor the property. In return, the park and recreation board might agree to name the property after thai group. An agree- ment should be reached as to how and in what form the group will fulfill the sponsorship agreement. It is important that as problems arise the board consider the questions as a policy matter and set guidelines which would and could be followed in future cases as they develop. Sample agreements can be developed as a means of encouraging groups and individuals to participate in fostering park and recreation programs. CHANGE OF NAME The policy statement should include a procedure for name change. Happenings can and do cause changes to occur. As an example, the assassination of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy stimulated many name changes in parks. A waiting period following such incidents is definitely advisable. Then, too, there is a large group of parks that have names with no particular rhyme or reason, and may, due to lack of public acceptance, go by location or nicknames. Renaming of such properties is quite appropriate and should be part of a total plan. An inventory of all park and recreation facility names is a good beginning in determining a need for change. Change for the mere sake of change has no merit. On the contrary, a rather stiff set of checks and balances should be built into the policy statement which would make changing names a serious matter, but also make changes possible when current names are inappropriate or ineffectual. PLAQUES AND MARKERS Plaques and markers are frequently used to honor people in the community or to designate history related to that particular property. Plaques are also used to accommodate and recognize groups and people who contributed, even though the facility is not named after them. There are examples where individual chairs in an auditorium, having been donated, carried the name of each donor. Some administra- tors might consider this illustration extreme even though this particular practice solved a financial need. It is important that plaques be regulated, styled, and handled in a tasteful manner. Further, once used, people will expect their continued use. Therefore, the involve- ment should regulate use of plaques in the best interest of the community. 071 14 Naming oi Parka and Park and Recreation Ftcilifles NAMING SECTIONS A definite policy should be approved for procedures for separately naming areas within a larger property, whether it be a park or facility, and affixing a name which is different from that of the over-all facility. As an example, there may be placed in Cherokee Park a John Doe Rose Garden or a Robert Smith Lodge or, even more appropriate, an Arrowhead Swimming Pool. There may be within a lodge a section which is named the Julia Jones Auditorium. Regulations should be- come firm written policies on how to proceed in making such designa- tions and where and when they are appropriate. TIMING Timing is an extremely important factor in the naming of parks. Often a temporary name emerges by default. Temporary designation of names in fifty percent of the cases reported in the survey remained as permanent names. Procedures should be included in the policy statement which will bring about the proper timing for selecting a name immediately following the acquisition of the property or prior to the development state. In the development of recreation facilities, the name should be designated before construction begins. CONTESTS About one in five recreation departments have experimented with contests to name park or recreation facilities t and of those who have experimented, two-thirds recommend contests as a desirable way of obtaining a name. Citizen participation in contests generated com- munity interest and good public relations. Care must be exercised to insure that the chosen name meets the criteria/ before venturing into the conduct of a naming contest, rules, guidelines, and regulations must be specified. GROUNDBREAKING AND DEDICATIONS A general policy statement should be developed on groundbreak- ings and dedications. Generally, they have not been utilized to their full potential. Dedications and groundbreakings should be an im- portant public relations tool and can bring public awareness to a new opening or a new property as a new community asset. When a new park is given or a facility constructed and ready for public use, a certain amount of fanfare should accompany the occasion. Though we may search for the best possible public relations and seek to stimu- late immediate use through the dedication vehicle, the policy state- ment should set down procedures which will assure high standards when groundbreakings and dedications are undertaken. HISTORICAL STATEMENT A search of past board minutes should be made before the criteria are developed, in order to reveal former trends, precedents, and prior philosophy regarding the naming of park and recreation facilities. The 072 IS findings should be written into a historical statement. It would then be advisable to make a search of the laws, ordinances, and other legal documents in order to determine the responsible final body which must ultimately approve the proposed name. A legal position on the implementation of the name should be developed. From these back- ground materials, a simple statement of objective can be derived which will couple former practices with present or future goals. A goal-oriented and philosophical statement should be developed in order to set forth the high aims which may override expediency as a naming process. NAME USABILITY The park or facility name should be easily utilized or displayed. It is best to avoid difficult spellings or pronunciations. Without dis- play, and we might add display with some boldness, the name will noi be utilized to the fullest advanage and the general public will probably associate the property with an irrelevant place, name, or nickname. Properties in city-wide usage will be remembered regardless of name. Names that are too long are difficult to display. There are problems other than the difficulty of spelling or display. Criteria should not be so rigid that they restrict alternatives, even when policies are formed. A cue in point occurred in the naming of dams in the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The District had a firm policy of naming its dams, lakes, parks, and recreation areas after the town or village closest to the site location. The largest dam in the system was located near the town of Nellie, Ohio. The individuals responsible for carrying out the naming policy objected to the name of Nellie and rationalized that there was once a Mohawk Indian village closer to the dam site than the town of Nellie. The Mohawks were known to be indigenous to the New York State area and not the southeast portion of Ohio. Archeological studies were made and a camp site was un- covered and it was theorized that they were Mohawks. Consequently, the name - - Mohawk Dam. The public's inclination toward brevity may in lime make names misleading. A name such as "John Paul Parsons Park" will be in a few yean be shortened to "Parsons Park" and strangers might wonder if it is an area only for the clergy. A "Henry Childs Park" will be shortened through public usage to "Childs Park" which many people will picture as a recreation area for children only. 073 16 Naming ol Parka and Park and Recreation Facilities TERMINOLOGY The names of park and recreation facilities may be affected by the terminology used to designate different types of properties. For ex- ample, a neighborhood park might be designated as a recreation area. This designation could affect the full name of the property in the fol- lowing way. Given the name "Cherokee," it could become Cherokee Park or Cherokee Recreation Area. We fail to accurately identify areas and facilities by not taking the time to use descriptive names. For example: you may simply name a large meadow "The Meadow," but wouldn't it be better to name it "The Great Meadow"? A name that implies grandeur - greatness. "Meadow" implies an openness, a quiet pastoral setting, offering passive recreational use. "Great Meadow" reflects a feeling of spa- ciousness - - of much room for everyone, a strength and capability to accommodate without congestion; grandeur with quiet dignity. It is not uncommon to insert clauses in policy statements which may help the park and recreation commission to avoid designating a name which might appear controversial because of association with a dubious group, object, or a segment of the community. Sometimes names are changed because of changing word usage which downgraded the name. An unfortunate incident in the area might cause the old name to become undesirable. In the past a good bit of -emphasis was placed on the naming of properties and facilities according to the ethnic origin of the people in the neighborhood. About one in five cities have named parks for ethnic-origin reasons. Neighborhoods do change rather quickly. As a result the intended reference might be totally inappropriate when the area becomes more cosmopolitan. . An ethnic group may wonder, in this day and time, why the name of a renowned person, from their ethnic origin, should be used specifi- cally in their community. If the person's name is of merit to the com- munity, there should be valid reasons for community-wide application in the use of the name. The park in front of the White House was not named for Lafayette because people of French origin lived in the area. No American Negro would object to naming a park or facility, in a dominant Negro area, Lincoln Park. Lincoln Parks are scattered, as they ;f 074 17 should be, all over the country, in all socio-economic classes, and in all dominant ethnic-origin areas. All of us as Americans owe a debt of gratitude to George Wash- ington Carver. A park named for him should be in honor of the man, not his race. The Poles share Pulaski with us/ the Italians, Garibaldi/ the French, Lafayette - and we should honor them as defenders of liberty, not for their nationality. Great men cut across the boundaries of race, religion and nationality. SUMMARY The naming of park and recreation areas is an important task. It is not a task to be taken lightly, but one that should be approached with caution and patient deliberation. A name, once selected for an area, should be bestowed with the intention that it will be permanent. It is the responsibility of those who select the names of parks, and recreation facilities, do so with an awareness thai their actions will exert an influence upon the community in future generations. This Management Aidi has been prepared as a professional ser- vice. It ii hoped that this bulletin will assist those who are faced with the problem of selecting appropriate names for park and recreation areas by providing some broad guidelines under which a proper policy for naming can be carried out. A recent national survey on the subject of naming parks and rec- reation areas has been conducted by the National Recreation and Parks Association. The results of this survey have been summarized and are presented as a supplement to this bulletin. SURVEY SUMMARY NAMING OF PARRS AND PARR AND RECREATION FACILITIES 1. In your opinion which of the following general classifications of names for parks and/or facilities are appropriate and which are actually used in your department. Believe Department Appropriate Uses Persons' Names 91.7% 90.9% Places and Feature Names 87.9% 90.9% Historic Event Names 44.7% 51.5% Mythological and Descriptive 43.9% 45.5% Organizations 41.7% 47.0% Great Ideas 26.5% 31.1% Great Cause* 12.1% 11.4% Religious Names 6.1% 6.8% 075 18 Naming of Parki and Park and Recreation Facilities PARKS ACTUAL PERSON OR PERSONS BREAKDOWN Large Donors Historic Group Local War Heroes National War Heroes Board or Commission Member Combination Hero-Historic Person Local Official Civilian National Heroes Park ft Recreation Director National Official Small Donors State Officials Other Source Living 17.4% 3.0% 1.5% 0.8% 3.8% 0.0 7.6% 0.0 1.5% 1.5% 6.1% 1.5% 2.3% Source Deceased 31.8% 13.6% 9.8% 5.3% 9.1% 6.1% 17.4% 6.8% 8.3% 8.3% 83% 3.8% 1.5% APPROPRIATE Source Living 45.5% 25.8% 18.1% 15.9% 16.7% 12.1% 15.2% 12.1% 9.8% 7.6% 14.4% 4.5% 1.5% Soorae Deceased 48.5% 402% 37.1% 36.4% 30.0% 31.8% 27.3% 25.0% 25.0% 242% 11.4% 15.9% 3.8% RECREATION FACILITIES 7.6% 152% 31.1% 36.4% 23% 6.1% 17.4% 25.0% 0.0 7.6% 12.9% 28.8% 0.0 3.0% 10.6% 25.0% 1.5%6.8%16.7%242% PERSON OR PERSONS BREAKDOWN Large Donors Historic Group Local War Heroes National War Heroes Board or Commission Member Combination Hero-Historic Person Local Official Civilian National Heroes Park ft Recreation Director National Official Small Donon Slate Official Other In your Opinion which of the following classifications of names for parks and facilities are appropriate and which are actually used in your department. 0.0 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 4.5% 0.0 0,0 Z3% 3.0% 2.3% 5.3% 2.3% 5.3% 0.8% 2.3% 8.3% 9.1% 10.6% 11.4% 7.6% 15.2% 4.5% 1.5% 31.8% 212% 20.5% 20.5% 212% 14.4% 12.9% 5.3% 076 LaGasvo 19 PARKS PLACE * FEATURE NAMES Recognizable Area or Neighborhood Assumed Name National Phenomenon Combination of Nat. Phen. ft Place Horticultural Combination Hort. ft Place Rivers MYTHOLOGICAL ft DESCRIPTIVE NAMES Gods or Goddesses Descriptive RELIGIOUS NAMES Denominations Religious Orders HISTORIC EVENT NAMES Battles Explorations Treaty Signing Discoveries First Occurrences GREAT IDEAS Friendship Independence Peace GREAT CAUSES Suffrage United Nations League of Nation Actual 40.2% 35.6% 22.0% 7.6% 13.6% 3.8% 14.4% 0.0 10.6% 0.0 0.8% 3.0% 2.3% 0.0 1.5% 2.3% 6.0 0.0 0.8% 2.3% 0.0 0.0 Appro- priate 65.9% 65.9% 59.3% 51.5% 44.7% 47.8% 47.0% 8.3% . 41.7% 1.5% 3.8% 33.3% 31.8% 28.1% 34.8% 31.1% 18.9% 20.5% 20.5% 5.3% 9.8% 5.3% FACILITIES Actual 15.2% 16.7% 6.1% 17.4% 3.8% 2.3% 1.5% 0.0 4.5% 0.0 0.8% 2.3% 0.0 0.0 23% 1.5% 0.8% 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Appro* priate 42.5% 47.0% 33.3% 26.5% 31.8% 30.8% 20.5% 7.6% 22.8% 1.5% 3.8% 18.9% 152% 17.4% 19.7% 17.4% 16.7% 15.9% 14.4% 3.8% 6.8% 4.5% •J •i 077 15.2% 1.5% 5.3% 2.3% 33.3% 22.8% 24.2% 1.5% 12.1% 2.3% 6.1% 1.5% 32.4% 22.0% 23.5% 0.8% 20 Naming of Paiki and Park and Recreation Facilities ORGANIZATIONS Civic Fraternal Veterans Other 2. If you believe iacilities should not be named after elected officials, please indicate why- TYPICAL REPLIES Temporary caretakers of titles and facilities. You will always find someone else in the future just as deserving. Change in popularity may change name often. Individual did not contribute full cost of facility — others contributed. You never know when they can go bad. Too often they did little or nothing for parks and recreation. Any person's public image can change drastically — the question of where to draw the line. May set a precedent — name may become insignificant. Individual may become insignificant after a period of time. Elected officials are soon forgotten and future generations wonder who they were. Fame is fleeting/ who cares in 20 years? The name soon loses meaning to the users and other residents who move into the area. Not unless outstanding — sets a precedent for cheap politics. Not unless they are deceased as it extends an image of individual emphasis which does not assist in attracting maximum participation. Not unless their work suitable in development of parks. Generally not unless there is an unusual circumstance so unique it becomes compelling. 078 * * LaGane 21 Not during term of office, but in recognition of outstanding service after term of office. No, except if official has given many years of service. Not until they are out of office. This would mean an alienation of some supporters now important and would mean nothing in years to come unless person has been out- standing. Not unless elected official proves worthy of naming park for him through his accomplishment. Not during term of office — it may be construed to have political motives. Poltical implications, unless official has served in an outstanding capacity over a long period of time. *• •• 2 1 f -JToo often for political reasons, not because it is justified. 4 Only after retirement or deceased. j Only if deceased and outstanding/ future deportment of any living ; person could become embarrassing to an agency who used his . j name. - j ». V -- * The elected official's ultimate worth still to be proven in the future. A governmental facility should be named for great men only if they have contributed much to their surroundings, and few poliiicans can do this. Political jealousy and conflict result. Shows partiality. Not enough parks to go around. It brings about pressure groups. If you name after one — how can you stop.naming after the others? Too often politics rears its head and all historical names may be changed. Park names once esxablised should not be changed. I disapprove of this type of politics. 079 22 Naming oi Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities Politics have no part in naming parks. Keep it out of politics. Parks should be free of politics. Political implication — divisions of opinion in community. Keep politics out. Such a policy would take on a political tinge. Political. Political implication. Dangerous political gamut. Politics and parks do not mix — frequent turnover of officials. 3. If you believe facilities eonld be named after elected officials, please indicate why. Only through personal sacrifice and extreme endeavor. Outstanding contribution to the recreation and park program. Outstanding official. If service and contribution to community are outstanding (4 replies) When the elected official has been solely responsible for the facility. A very popular official. If they are the people most closely associated with the place. Easily dedicated to an honored citizen. Outstanding service — official has dedicated himself to a project out- side the realm of his official capacity. I'd base it on what the individual did by way of an outstanding con- tribution in work or money. Officials who have devoted a large part of time and money. Many years of dedicated service and extraordinary accomplishments. If elected official has contributed to community. 080 LaOasie 23 Contributed time and effort over and beyond expectation. No, except if official has given many years of service. Far too many parks and other facilities have been made possible by hard dedicated effort of elected people — I think this should be recognized. 4. Do you use plaques in lieu of names to give recognition to donors ? YES • 69.3% NO - 30.7% COMMENTS: Donations of flag poles, monuments, eta Upon their request. On small objects such as trees, play apparatus. Bronze plaques set in concrete at base of trees and other facilities. We engrave plastic plaques for small donations — they are removed in a few years. Donation of significance — zoo animals — gets donors name on animal identification sign. Plaques in all facilities. On certain donated facilities we use commemorative plaques. Major donations such as buildings. When donor has made signification contributions. In case of substantial donations. All those donating $1,000 for swimming pool, names on plaque. Feel recognition should be given and this type has proven acceptable. Feel it more appropriate. Should recognise donors - it helps to encourage donations. Use both name and plaques — however, plaques are useful in giving recognition without renaming. 081 24 Naming ot Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities 200 plaques — no major donations. Plaques should be sufficient recognition of donations. Plaque must be acquired by donor as well as cost of placement. Letters and/or resolutions from board and court. No plaques, but listing on master plan, etc. Occasionally. Plaques soon get destroyed — waste of time and money. 5. Has your department ever named a park, facility, monument, etc., after an employee, director, or superintendent? 25.0% Yes, 75.0% No If yes, what was the status of these directors at the time the facility was named? 43.3% Deceased, 33.3% Working, 26.7% Retired. -v "i 6. If you have renamed facilties, why? J City Commission renamed zoo after mayor — typical political | maneuver. . ' j Political. j By vote of elected officials. . '* Under new management. Renamed after elected official's death. Council edict. Honoring section groups. To honor local historical figure. In our pioneer village, building were renamed to have authentic historical names. To honor a living citizen-who was instrumental in developing park. Honor an individual. Renamed park in honor of Sister City in Mexico. Park located in opposite end of county from residence area of person for whom park was named. So ai not to conflict wih similar name. To avoid confusion. 082 ______________^__________ LaQa«M 25 Strong demand by neighborhood for more meaningful name. Changing character of parks. Area dissatisfaction with name. To correspond with neighborhood name. Renamed to forget unfavorable recognition of area. Started as "City" park and renamed after development completed. Consolidation of parks. 7. Do groups or individuals having had something named after them continue to have a proprietary interest in the property or facility and want to become involved in management? 32.9% Yes, 67.1% No If yes, has this been good, bad, or both? 66.7% Good and Bad, 25.0% Good, 8.3% Bad. 8. If your department has named facilities after groups of people, ~~v ' what did these groups do to merit the name? Donated Money 82.7%, Donated Labor 50.0%, Donated Land 44.2%, Donated Equipment 42.3%, Donated Construction Materials 42.3%, Donated Trees, Shrubs, Flowers 34.6%, Donated Construction Equip- ment 26.9% Donated Facility 3.8%, Donated Public Relations 3.8%. 9. When temporary names are not used by department, how is a property usually identified before it is named? By location. (18 Replies) Street location. (6 Replies) By street name or subdivision name. (2 Replies) By street on which greatest frontage lies. By street, intersection, or property name. Identified as to street or neighborhood. Street and/or town section. Usually by location or name and prior use. (2 Replies) By name of subdivision. Assumes known name for the area. (5 Replies) Local use of name. 083 26 Naming rf Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities Usually referred to by local area or project number. BY own index number and letter. File number or district section. Park site number. By project name or location. Tax map, block and lot number. Engineer department or architect's number or code on blue prints. By project number. Tract designation. BY previous owner of area. (2 Replies) 10. If a nickname has been adopted, what do YOU believe was responsible for this? History — general community background and usage by general public. (2 Replies) General use of land before acquisition. (2 Replies) Tradition. 11. As a matter of practice has your department conducted con- tests open to the public for the purpose of selecting names for park and/or recreation facilities? 21.2% Yes, 78.8% No • If yes, would you recommend this practice to other departments? 66.7% Yes, 33.3% No NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES 1. Do you have an active part in the naming of parks and park recreation facilities? YES • 78.0% NO • 22.0% 2. Who has the responsibility of naming your parks and park and recreation facilities? Park and recreation director .... 5.9% Park and recreation board or commission - 53.8% City council 34.4% County board of supervisors .... 5.9% 084 LaQasse 27 3. Do YOU have regulations governing the naming of parks and/or facilities? YES - 9.1% NO - 90.9% 4. Do you have an ordinance, resolution, or general policy state- ment specifying criteria for naming parks and/or facilities? YES - 8.3% NO - 91.7% 5. In your opinion, when should the name of a structure be designated? Before construction begins .... 83.8% Sometime during construction 7.7% After construction is completed - - - 8.5% 6. In your opinion, when should the name of a park be designated? When property is acquired - 37.3% ^ Before development begins .... 47.6% .,- "' Sometime during development 9.5% ' After development is finished - • - 5.6% - i 7. In your opinion, what do you believe should be the minimum j percentage of purchase or development cost that a donor must contri- bute before a park or facility is named after the donor? - * j Contributed Park Acquisition Facility Development Money Coil Cost 10% 2.0% 3.0% 20% 2.0% 1.0% 30% 3.0% 1.0% 40% 2.0% 3.0% 50% 35.6% 40.6% 60% 15.8% 1Z9% 70% 5.0% 6.9% 80% 6.9% 5.9% 90% 5.9% 2.0% 100% 21.8% 23.7% 8. Sometimes names of parks or facilities are tied to the ethnic character of a community or neighborhood. A Negro neighborhood may have a Carver park, or Italian neighborhood a Columbus park, or a French neighborhood a Lafayette park, or Pulaski park in a Polish neighborhood. Do you have a park or facility with a name tied to the ethnic character of the community or neighborhood? YES - 22.7% NO - 77.3% 085 28 Naming oi Parta and Park and Recreation raciUiies 9. Do you have a practice oi naming rooms, treat, or similar objects aftei donors? YES - 19.6% NO - 80.4% 10. Do you use plaques in lieu oi names to give recognition to donors? YES - 69.3% NO - 30.7% 11. Do you have a park named aiter war dead (war memorial park}? YES - 30.5% NO - 69.5% 12. Do you have a facility named aiier war dead? YES - 18.6% NO - 81.4% 13. Has your department ever named a park, facility, monument, etc., aiter an employee, director, or superintendent? YES - 25.0% NO - 75.0% 14. If your department has named facilities aiter department super- intendents or directors, what was the status oi these directors at the time the facility was named? Working • 32.3% Deceased • 41.9% Retired - 25.8% 15. Do groups or individuals having had something named aiter them continue to have a proprietary interest in the property or facility and want to become involved in management? YES - 32.9% NO - 67.1%J li yes, has this been good, bad, or both? GOOD • 25.0% BAD - 8.3%GOOD ft BAD - 66.7% 16. li your department has named facilities aiter groups oi people, what did these groups do to merit the name? Donated labor - - Donated money Donated land - Donated equipment - Donated construction materials Donated construction equipment Donated trees, shrubs, flowers - Public relations only Donated facility - - 50.0% 8Z7% 442% 42.3% 42.3% 26.9% 34.6% 3.8% 3.8% 17. Has an agreement in writing been made (between any groups and your department) specifying the rights and obligations oi the group and the department? YES - 11.0% NO - 89.0% 086 29 18. Do the members of the group receive special privileges at that particular facility? YES - 15.7% NO - 84.3% 19. Do the members of the group receive special privileges at other department facilities? YES - 0% NO - 100% 20. As a matter of practice, does your department give names to small areas of a larger park or recreation area? YES - 33.6% NO - 66.4% 21. Is it your opinion that the past naming practices of your de- partment have establhsied a precedent of some kind that influences the type of name to be selected? YES - 46.8% NO - 53.2% 22. If it is your opinion thai precedents for naming facilities have been established, would you like to change these practices? YES - 20% NO • 80% 23. When a second department or agency is involved, who has the final authority for selecting name? School board ......... 12.9% Park and/or recreation board .... 19.4% Combination school board and P and/or R board 59.7% City or county council 8.0% 24. Does your department have a written policy or set of guide- lines pertaining to the manner in which parks and facilities shall be named? YES - 5.2% NO - 94.8% 25. In your opinion, is it a desirable practice to offer to an in- dividual party or group a particular name in an effort to obtain fin- ancial support for development of that facility? YES - 38.9% NO - 61.1% 26. At a matter of practice has your department made an offer to an individual party or group of a particular name in an effort to obtain their financial support for development of a facility? YES - 2Z4% NO - 77.6% 087 30 Naming oi Parta and Park and Recreation Facilities 27. If your department has offered to name, in exchange for financial support, has this technique been used with success? YES - 37.2% NO - 62.8% 28. Have you used temporary names for parks or facilities? YES - 50.0% NO - 50.0% 29. If your department does use "temporary" names, how long has it been before a permanent name was selected? RANGE MEDIAN MEAN MODE 1-100 Mos. 14 Mos. 15 Mos. 15 Mos. 30. Have any names which started as temporary names remained as permanent names of a park or facility? YES - 59.0% NO - 41.0% 31. Have any facilities in your system acquired a widely accepted nickname in lieu of a given name? YES - 39.4% NO - 60.6% 32. As a matter of practice, has your department conducted con- tests open to the public for the purpose of selecting names for park and /or recreation facilities? YES - 212% NO - 78.8% If yes, would you recommend this practice to other departments? YES - 66.7% NO - 33.3% 33. a. What is the largest audience ever to witness a dedication ceremony conducted by your department? (See Table) b. What was being dedicated? (See Table) c. How many man-hours do you estimate were spent planning, preparing, conducting, cleaning up, etc., for this dedication ceremony including speech-writing time, etc.? (See Table) d. Was entertainment provided for the dedication ceremony? (Yes-No) (See Table) Rang* Median Mem Mode Swimming Fool Largest dedication audience 100-15,000 500 1,512 500 Man-hours required to stage dedication 10-1,000 100 173 100 Entertainment Ye§ • 72.7% No - 27.3% 088 LaOasse 31 Path Largest dedication audience 30-15,000 600 Mian-hours required to stage dedication 8-500 50 Entertainment Ye» - 37.0% Community Center Largest dedication audience 140-25,000 300 Man-hours required to stage dedication 5-400 45 Entertainment Yes - 90.9% Qoli Coune Largest dedication audience 100-1,500 300 Man-hours required to stage dedication 4-150 64 Entertainment Yes - 28.5% Other Park Related Largest dedication audience 50-18,000 500 Man-hours required to stage dedication 5-1,000 100 Entertainment Yet - 60.0% Other Recreation Related Largest dedication audience 100-6,000 1,800 Man-hours required to stage dedication 8-300 25 Entertainment Yet - 66.6% 34. How are your dedications attended? Fair Usually Well Poorly Attendance Attended 14.4% 44.5% 33.7% 1,785 500 136 50 No - 63.0% 2,480 300 90 25 Mo - 9.1% 371 100 70 100 No - 71.5% 2,705 500 "" 241 100 No - 40.0% 1,896 95 No - 33.4% Always Large Attendance 7.4% 35. How many dedication ceremonies did your department con- duct during: 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960. 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 Range Median 1-7 1 MO 1 1-10 1 1-8 1 1-11 1 MOM 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.9 1.8 Mode 1 1 1 1 1 J 089 32 Naming of Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities 36. Has your department served refreshments in connection with any dedication ceremonies? YES • 47.1% NO - 52.9% 37. If your department has served refreshments in connection with a dedication ceremony, what was the occasion? Swimming Pool dedication 14.7% Park dedication 14.7% Community Center dedication .... 32.3% Golf Course dedication - 11.7% Dedication of other facilities related to parks - 17.6% Dedication of other facilities related to recreation 9.0% 38. Please check the following that have been used by your de- partment to indicate donors: Nameplate 63.0% Plaque of any size 76.1% Portrait-photograph 9.5% Portrait-painting 4.7% •,- "~X- Sign 3.5% 39. Has your department conducted an open house following any dedication ceremony? ' YES - 76.4% NO - 23.6% .* 40. If your department has conducted an open house: _ ., __ Did you give the dignitaries a private tour? YES - 70.3% NO - 29.6% How many days did the open house last? Median Mean Mode Vi-5 1 1.3 1 What were the daily hours of the open house? Rang* Median Mean Mode Opening Time 8 AM-7PM 12 =00 Noon 12:30 PM 1:00 PM Cloiing Time 1PM- 10PM 5:00 PM 5:45PM 5:00PM Total Time .. lHr.-12Hrs. 5 Hrs. 5V« Hrs. 3Hrs. Were guided tours provided? YES - 72.8% NO - 27.2% War* hosts and/or hostesses on hand to greet visitors? YES - 85.4% NO - 14.6% Were the news media given a special tour? YES - 69.3% NO - 30.7% 090 MANAGEMENT AIDS BULLETINS PUBLISHED No. 1—Manual for Park and Recreation Boardi and Commissions No. 2—Municipal Handbook lor New Green Committee Chairman No. 3—Park Equipment lor Cities oi 150,- 000 Population or less No. 4—Outdoor Theaters No. 5—Picnic Facilities Survey No. 6—Refreshment Stand Surrey No. 7—Vandalism—How to Slop It No. 8—Small Lake Management Manual and Survey No. 9—The Loss ei Park and Recreation No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. 10—Lawn Bowling 11—Housekeeping Manual for Parks and Recreational Buildings 12—Building and Programming Cast- ing Pools 13—A Safety Guide for Park and Recreation Employees 14—Characteristics and Accomplish- ments of Park and Recreation Administrators (out oi print) 15—Roller Skating Manual and Survey 18—Family Camping 17—Audio Visual Aids Manual 18—Land Requirement* 13—Drag Strip Sumy 20—Manual and Survey for Public Safety 21—Mass Communications 22—Interpretation 23—Salary Survey oi Park and/or Recreation Executives 24—How Education AHecti Salaries 25—Fringe Benefits Survey oi Park and Recreation Executives 28—A Manual on Concession Con- tract* 27—Alcoholic Beverages Survey 28—Souvenirs, GUIs, and Novelties 25—Amusement Rides 30—Recruitment and Curriculum! No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. 31—User Fees 32—Park Police 33—Public Golf Courses 34—Guidelines For Campground De- velopment 35—Shooting Ranges 38—Handbook for Ski Slope Develop- ment 37—Natural Ice Skating Surfaces 38—Artificial Ice Skating facilities 39—Signs and Symbols For Park and Recreation Use 40—Creative Playground Equipment 41—Trends In Consolidation of Parks and Recreation 42—Municipal Cemetery Management for Park and Recreation 43—Day Camping for Park and Rec- reation Departments 44—Lake Zoning For Recreation 45—Financing • Sources oi Income for Parks and Recreation 48—Budgeting For Parks and Recrea- tion 47—Par-3 Coll 48—Annual Reports 49—Swimming Pool Management 50—Swimming Pool Management 51—Public Beaches 52—Sources of Assistance 53—Litter Control Handbook 54—Marinas 55—Perpetuation oi Historical Heritage 58—History of Parks and Recreation 57—Filing Systems 58—Vending Machines 59—Fees k Charges 60—Recreational Use of Airports and Adjacent Lands 81—Administrative Policy Manual 82—Coasting and Tobogganing Facilities S3—Pirtonnel Policies 64—Naming of Parks and Park and Recreation Facilities j 091