To address the loss of farmland in the city and the gap in the food system, Olympia is seeking experienced design consultants to prepare an agri-park feasibility study to determine the viability of developing a park that supports farming.
In a request for qualifications (RFQ) posted on the city's website, Olympia plans to develop a park that supports local agriculture and provides food to residents.
The selected candidate will help the city partners to facilitate discussion with the community and stakeholders throughout the public process.
Olympia recognized that the food system gap was caused by the loss of farmland locally, decreased number of people entering the farming profession, and the rising population.
Olympia noted that neither the city nor adjacent jurisdictions have parks supporting agriculture.
The city created the Olympia Farmland workgroup, which developed several recommendations and strategies to fill gaps in the local food system and address barriers to growing food within walking distance of residents. The group has already taken steps to assemble regional partners who will participate in the study.
Recognizing that the need is beyond Olympia’s abilities, the workgroup has already taken steps to assemble regional partners who will participate in the study.
The RFQ deadline is on January 31, 2023, at 4 p.m.
The feasibility study must be completed by January 31, 2024. The study will include:
The city requires that the successful candidate demonstrate proven skills and technical competence in park design, bring diverse partners together, and engage the community to determine the scope of an agri-park that suits Olympia and its partners.
Olympia is seeking consultants based on the following criteria:
For questions about the RFQ, contact Director of Parks Planning and Maintenance Sylvana Niehuser, via email at sniehuse@ci.olympia.wa.us.
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BobJacobs
I don't understand this idea. The state Growth Management Act forces all development into urban areas in order to preserve farm and forest land outside the urban area. This would seem to change that radically, placing farming within the urban area. Or is it more of a training facility, like the one that Olympia School District has off Boulevard Road. And if it is a training facility, why would a city be doing it instead of an educational institution like SPSCC? Very confusing.
Bob Jacobs
Thursday, January 5, 2023 Report this
KarenM
I have questions about the purpose of this study. Farming takes large parcels of land to be successful and efficient. There are few large parcels inside the urban area. I can see value for demonstration and teaching gardens that teach people to garden in their own yards. I can also see value to having space near the urban area for pea-patch type gardens. However, it seems that a full-on study may not be needed to respond to the expressed need for support of agriculture. There are existing programs such as Master Gardener, DirtWorks, and GRUB.
The City should be engaged with the County to support preservation of agricultural land where it currently exists. Profitable farms near the urban area can supply food. We need to preserve large enough parcels in the rural areas to keep these farms profitable. If zoning allows these larger parcels to be cut into smaller and smaller pieces, we will lose our local farm production. I hope the Conservation District is also involved with this discussion.
Thursday, January 5, 2023 Report this
MaxiDu
Come on Bob and Karen! I know you guys really like community; a farm where those who live in the city can get in touch with others and bounty is a great idea. Give the idea a chance to grow, no pun intended.
Friday, January 6, 2023 Report this
KarenM
In response to MaxiDu - I am happy to see opportunities for people to garden together. We have some of those already including Dirtworks and Master Gardener programs. People can volunteer at GRUB. So my point is that we already have some of these activities available. I am questioning the need for hiring a consultant and a feasibility study. Seems like there is interest, so the City could simply get more feedback, ask the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and others and then propose something to try. This looks like more steps and costs than may be needed.
Friday, January 6, 2023 Report this
KarenM
The City currently has 134 garden plots at two different community garden locations.
https://www.olympiawa.gov/services/parks___recreation/recreation/community_gardens/index.php
From the web page: "Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation is excited to offer you the opportunity to grow your own healthy food by becoming a member of one of our two Community Gardens. In addition to increasing your access to delicious produce, community gardening is also a fantastic way to build community with your neighbors."
Saturday, January 7, 2023 Report this
Eickholt
How about instead of one big urban farm we had several smaller examples spread out to neighborhoods who need them. Involve Tumwater and Lacey?
Saturday, January 7, 2023 Report this
KarenM
If we need more pea-patch space, that seems like a simple expansion of the existing City program. Supporting urban small personal food production makes sense.
Back to Bob's earlier comment. The urban areas will be developed with more density and that will help preserve farmland outside of the urban area. I am not sure I can support creation of large farm land areas inside the urban area.
Does the City need to create a whole program about farming? I don't see this as a role for city government.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Report this