Parks and Recreation

Purpose
The parks owned and operated by Chelan County PUD have become an important part of the local community. As such, individuals and groups currently, and well into the future, wish to acknowledge individuals for their contribution to the parks and the community in general. Additionally, family members may wish to acknowledge other members of their family. We have received numerous requests, from re-naming an entire park to wishing to dedicate a park bench, for these purposes. In order to ensure a consistent and appropriate response to all requests this policy was created.

Naming of parks
All of the parks presently owned by Chelan County PUD are currently named appropriately. Changing the name of the park significantly impacts numerous individuals and governmental entities and the community. Therefore, it is the District policy not to re-name any of the existing parks.

Naming of facilities within a park
Requests to name or re-name a portion of the park, trail, facility or garden within the park will be considered when, and if, the following conditions are met:

Names
Names should provide some form of individual identity related to:

1.      The geographic location of the facility.

2.      An outstanding feature of the facility.

3.      Commonly recognized historical event, group or individual.

4.      An individual or group who contributed significantly to the acquisition or development of the park and/or individual facility.

5.      An individual who provided an exceptional service in the interest of the park system as a whole.

6.      An individual who provided an exceptional service in the interest of the community as a whole.

7.      The contributions of an individual or group must be well documented and broadly acknowledged within the community.

Submission Process

1.      All parties wishing to propose names for gardens, trails, facilities, or memorials must submit a written proposal providing sufficient information as to how the proposed name satisfies the criteria of the park naming guidelines.

2.      Adequate historical or descriptive information shall be provided to validate the proposed name, so that staff may have a clear understanding and appreciation for the request.

3.      A proposal to commemorate an individual must contain evidence of support for the name and its application. Such evidence can be letters from local residents, government officials and/or community leaders. The proposal may also include petitions containing signatures of local citizens.

4.      When naming after a person or persons, written documentation of approval by next of kin to be honored (if available/possible) is required as part of the proposal.

5.      Park Staff will review the proposal for adherence to the stated criteria and authentication of statements relative to the contributions of an individual.

6.      If the request is incomplete, park staff will contact the applicant, in writing, and provide them with the opportunity to resubmit a revised request.

Naming Process

1.      The Director of Parks will receive written naming applications for review.

2.      After a name is decided upon by the Parks staff the recommendation will be submitted to the Chelan County PUD Parks and Recreation Committee for review and approval.

3.      After a name is decided upon by the Chelan County PUD Parks and Recreation Committee, public notice of the recommended Qualifying Name will occur twice during a thirty (30) day period in the local newspaper. Citizen comments and recommendations must be in writing to the Director of Parks and Recreation and be postmarked within the thirty (30) day public notice period.

4.      For an individual (excluding historically significant individuals) to be considered, that person must have contributed significantly to the acquisition or development of the park or facility, to the park system overall, or to the community as a whole. The recommended name must be accompanied by a biographical sketch which shall provide evidence of contributions to the community, park, facility, or park system overall.

5.      After the thirty (30) day public notice period, the Director of Parks will submit it for acceptance or rejection by the Parks and Recreation Committee and the District’s Commission.

Renaming

1.      The intent of naming is for permanent recognition. The renaming of parks facilities is strongly discouraged. It is recommended that efforts to change a name be subject to the most critical examination so as not to diminish the original justification for the name or discount the value of the prior contributors.

2.      Only those facilities named for geographic location or outstanding feature should be considered for renaming.

3.      Facilities named after individuals should never be changed unless it is found that the individual’s personal character is or was such that the continued use of their name for a park or facility would not be in the best interest of the community.

Other Naming Alternatives

1.      Parks and facilities that are donated to the Chelan County PUD can be named by deed restriction by the donor. The naming and acceptance of land is subject to approval by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Commissioners.

2.      Facilities within parks; i.e., playfields, playgrounds, picnic shelters, etc., can be named separately from the parks and facilities they are in, subject to the general approval process described throughout the policy.

Individual Recognition
Recognition of individuals such as family members will only be allowed through one of two programs. The first program is the park bench program. This program allows a family, company, or individual to purchase a park bench and dedicate it to an individual. There are two types of benches that can be purchased. The first is the current District's standard park bench. The second is an artist created bench which has been approved by District Park staff. In either case a plaque recognizing the individual will be placed as determined by the park staff near the bench. The second program is the dedicated plaque program. A plaque will be placed in a location mutually agreeable to the party and the park staff within the park. Plaque dimensions may not exceed 17” x 17”. The dedicator will donate $500 toward the operation and maintenance of the park. Chelan County PUD will make every effort to preserve and protect any dedicated plaque or bench and will provide its regular standard of care and maintenance. If necessary, due to the repair of surrounding areas, construction or redesign of a park or facility, the plaque or bench may be relocated. Should the plaque or bench be damaged due to vandalism or natural aging, the District will remove or repair the item at its sole discretion.

Donations and gifts are accepted and appreciated. If the dedication or gift includes the gift of a tree or other plant, Chelan County PUD Parks Department will provide its regular standard of landscape care for the tree or other plant. If the tree does not survive, Chelan County PUD is not obligated to provide a replacement.

Click here for Nomination for Naming/Dedication of Facilities form.