Friday, November 7, 2025
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to review and make recommendations for naming three properties — the Olympia Armory, Yelm Highway Community Park, and Kaiser Woods Park — at a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) has spent more than a year developing naming recommendations and gathering input from the public through the city’s Engage Olympia platform. The process included multiple rounds of public comments, testimony and review before PRAC finalized its proposals earlier this year.
On Feb. 20, PRAC unanimously approved a recommendation to officially name the Olympia Armory as Daley Arts Center. In March, the committee approved recommendations to name the Yelm Highway Community to Park as Jolene Unsoeld Community Park and Kaiser Woods Park as Elk Ridge Trails Park.
The historic Olympia Armory building is transforming into a new creative campus to foster arts and culture.
Through Engage Olympia, 46 name ideas were submitted by the public. At the PRAC public hearing on Oct. 17, 2024, many people advocated to name the facility after former Olympia Mayor Bill Daley, a strong advocate for the arts. The proposed name, Daley Arts Center, aligns with the city’s naming criteria for honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to Olympia’s cultural and civic life.
The city’s 83-acre property at 3323 Yelm Highway is an undeveloped community park. The approved masterplan includes soccer fields, trails, open space and public art elements.
Several residents have sent letters supporting the name Jolene Unsoeld Community Park. Unsoeld, who represented Washington in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1995, was known for her advocacy on environmental and women’s issues. PRAC determined the proposed name meets the city’s criteria for recognizing individuals with notable contributions to the community.
Kaiser Woods Park, a 70-acre undeveloped park in southwest Olympia, would be the city’s first park dedicated to mountain biking. The development plan includes more than 5 miles of hiking and biking trails, skills areas for varying ability levers, a new entrance from Black Lake Boulevard, a 25-stall parking lot and restrooms. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
In 2019, the city opened name solicitations, generating 50 suggestions. Olympia reopened the process in 2024 to gather public input. In total, 83 names were submitted for consideration.
PRAC recommended Elk Ridge Trails Park to recognize the elk herd that resides in the nearby Delphi area, a name that meets the city’s criteria related to local geography and wildlife.
According to Olympia Municipal Code 12.62.050, park names are chosen based on factors, such as location, natural or historical features, or individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the community. Living persons are excluded unless the park or park facility is named in conjunction with other governmental entities.
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Snevets
I think leaving people's names off of community buildings, parks, etc. is a good idea... There are many people who advocate for better/good things in their communities.
Tuesday, October 14 Report this
BobJacobs
I'm surprised that Jolene Unsoeld's leadership on open government was not mentioned. She was the mother of the Public Disclosure law.
Bob Jacobs
Tuesday, October 14 Report this
Me_In_Oly
I offered my recommendation for the name of this facility when the city solicited input, saying that the name should remain the Olympia Armory Creative Campus. This name aligned with established naming guidelines and recognized the building's history as an armory, which the proposed new name fails to do.
With the City's unresolved budget shortfall of some $7 million, we could have skipped the months-long naming process and saved its associated cost. If it's not broken, don't fix it.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
TheGreatAnon
BobJacobs
Jolene was a stunning Progressive Democrat who you and your ilk took down over her support for the 2nd Amendment.
The more you know...
Wednesday, October 15 Report this
pbaron1902
Mayor Daley was an Olympia official. I think the name is fine and welcome the purpose of the transfomation.
Wednesday, October 15 Report this