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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06. 22-44FEBRUARY 8, 2022 22-44 RESOLUTION (CARRIED___6-0_____LOST________LAID OVER________WITHDRAWN________) PURPOSE: APPROVE NAMING OF PARK LAND DEDICATED WITH PICKART ESTATES SUBDIVISION AS PICKART PARK INITIATED BY: PARKS DEPARTMENT ADVISORY PARK BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Approved WHEREAS, in 2018, Pickart family members made the decision to subdivide their property on W. 9th Street that has been in the family since 1912 for a residential subdivision development in the City of Oshkosh named Pickart Estates; and WHEREAS, as part of the process, a 1.5 acre public park was dedicated to the City as required in the Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, Pickart family members have requested the City name the public park “Pickart Park” in honor of the family’s history on this property; and WHEREAS, the Advisory Park Board recommended approval of the naming by a unanimous vote at their January 10, 2022 meeting. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the public park dedicated as a portion of the Pickart Estates Subdivision is hereby named “Pickart Park” and the proper city officials are hereby authorized to take such actions as may be necessary to properly and appropriately identify the park by this name. City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Ray Maurer, Parks Director DATE: February 2, 2022 RE: Approve Naming of Parkland Dedicated With Pickart Estates Subdivision as Pickart Park BACKGROUND In 2018, Pickart family members made the decision to subdivide a portion of their property on W. 9th Street (see map included in your packet) that has been in the family since 1912 for a residential subdivision development in the City of Oshkosh. As part of that process, a 1.5 acre public park was dedicated to the City as required in the Municipal Code. Pickart family members contacted Parks Department staff with the request to consider naming the public park “Pickart Park” due to the long history of the property being owned by the family (see attached family history submittal). ANALYSIS Staff reviewed the information submitted by the Pickart family outlining the family history on the site. Given the family history on the property, staff felt that honoring this request would commemorate that history on the parcel. Additionally, the subdivision in that area is named Pickart Estates. The Advisory Park Board recommended approval of the park naming by a unanimous vote at their January 10, 2022 meeting. Draft meeting minutes excerpt attached. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve this request. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Ray Maurer, Parks Director Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager ADVISORY PARK BOARD DRAFT MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2022 2) DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND NAMING OF THE PARKLAND DEDICATED WITH PICKART ESTATES SUBDIVISION AS PICKART PARK Mr. Maurer explained to the Board that this park location is near West 9th Avenue and Clairville Road. It is part of the subdivision that was approved in 2018. Per City ordinance, a subdivision has the option of either paying fees in lieu of parkland dedication or to dedicate park land. At that time, the Board requested that parkland be dedicated to the City and as such a 1.5 acre park was created in the subdivision. Mr. Maurer states that the Pickart family has reached out to him to share some of the land history and request that the park be named Pickart Park. Some of the family members were present to answer any questions the Board may have. The Board was provided with a copy of the City of Oshkosh Gifts, Donations and Memorials and Non- Commercial Naming Policy which provides criteria to consider for naming public spaces. The Board asked if there is precedent for naming the park in such a manner. Mr. Maurer responded that the last park he is aware of being named after a family was Rusch Park; it was land dedicated as part of the development by Rusch Properties on the west side of the city. Clarification was made that the park land was dedicated as park property for the city based on city ordinance regarding subdivisions, not as a donation to the city for that purpose. Mr. Maurer stated that in the past the city has looked at the history of the property when considering naming many of the city parks. Motion by Millette to recommend approval of the naming of the parkland dedicated with Pickart Estates Subdivision as Pickart Park. Seconded by Martin. Motion carried 9-0. A History of the Pickart Family Farm In 1912, John and Mary Pickart purchased the eighty-acre dairy farm west of Oshkosh that would be their home and the home of their descendants to the present day. Over the next four decades, through World Wars and the financial hardship of the Great Depression, they raised their five children among the apple trees and sunshine of their farm. John and Mary planted corn, oats, and hay. They maintained a herd of twenty dairy cows and kept chickens as well as pigs. Their oldest son, Anton, purchased the farm from his parents in 1951. He and his wife Cecilia brought up four children on the family land. These children, James, Robert, Paul, and Mary helped the farm operate during their youth. Their contributions are memorialized in the names of several Pickart Estate roads. After Anton retired due to severe health issues in early 1968, Cecilia, James, Robert (who had just returned from serving in the United States Army), Paul, and Mary worked together to keep the family farm operational. Shortly thereafter, Paul purchased part of his parent’s land, took over the dairy operation, and, with the rest of the family, continued to build the Pickart family legacy. Paul and Robert married and built homes on the family homestead. Their children were the third generation of Pickarts to grow up on the land purchased by John and Mary. The State of Wisconsin certified the Pickart Family Farm as a Century Farm, and the governor presented the certification at the Wisconsin State Fair in 2013. In 2018, seeking to contribute to the continuing growth of Oshkosh, Paul and his siblings began the process of creating the subdivision of Pickart Estates.