HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2019-019 Sponsored by: Staff
CITY OF SEWARD
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION 2019-019
A RESOLUTION OF THE SEWARD PLANNING AND ZONING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM THE NAME
"BENNY BENSON PARK" TO THE CITY PARK LOCATED AT 1121
THIRD AVENUE; THE AREA WEST OF THIRD AVENUE, BOUNDED
BY DAIRY HILL LANE AND CHAMBERLIN ROAD, COMPRISING
THE SEWARD LAGOON, ROTARY PAVILION, AND BENNY BENSON
MEMORIAL, COMMONLY KNOWN AS BENNY BENSON — LAGOON
PARK
WHEREAS, Benny Benson is a prominent and celebrated person, contributing to the
history of Seward,and the State of Alaska, by designing the Alaska state flag; and
WHEREAS, Benny Benson famously created the state flag design in 1926, at the age of
thirteen, while attending the Territorial School at Seward, and residing in the Jesse Lee Home;
and
WHEREAS, a memorial was installed near the corner of Dairy Hill Drive and Third
Avenue in 1976 honoring the State flag and Benson; and
WHEREAS, the Dale B. Clemens memorial boardwalk was installed adjacent to the
lagoon in 1987, providing a pedestrian access through the park along Third Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Seward Rotary Club sponsored the construction of a picnic pavilion on
the south end of the park in 1995; and
WHEREAS, the Seward Lagoon provides habitat for four species of Pacific Salmon,
Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles,various ducks, river otters and more; and
WHEREAS, the Seward Lagoon provides numerous recreational opportunities including
bird watching and a youth-only salmon fishery; and
WHEREAS, the legal boundaries of the park were officially designated in 2015 by the
Benny Benson Park Replat;
Seward Planning and Zoning Commission
Resolution 2019-019
Page 2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Seward Planning and Zoning
Commission that:
Section 1. The Commission recommends that the area of the City owned park located
at 1121 Third Avenue, comprising approximately 11.1 acres,be officially named "Benny Benson
Park"
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission this 3`d day of
December 2019.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, LASKA
Cindyazfe,
, Chair
AYES: Swann, Hatfield, Fleming, Ambrosiani, Seese, Charbonneau, Ecklund
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
VACANT: none
ATTEST:
renda Bal u, MMC
City Clerk
(City/4 G RPo�T
• L.
• ;•• cs
• • rr
•
• • I JL .T
r
3• �.�.
FOFta,k4
P&Z Agenda Statement
Meeting Date: December 3, 2019
Through: Tyler Florence, Parks and Recreation Director 7r—
Jackie C. Wilde,Community Development Director
From: Andy Bacon, Planning Assistant
Agenda Item: Officially proclaim the name"Benny Benson Park"
to the City Park located at 1121 Third Avenue
BACKGROUND &JUSTIFICATION:
Much has been written about the celebrated story of a thirteen year old student named Benny Benson
and his design of the Alaska State flag in 1926.The symbolism of the flag design, in Benson's o\vn
words, became lyrics to our state song. His achievements have been great contributions to our C i ty
and State history.
Benny Benson, and the state flag were recognized with a prominent memorial, Installed near the
intersection of Dairy l lill Lane and Third .Avenue in 1976, marking the first improvement to the
subject lurk.A boardwalk along Third 1v enue was built in 1987,and dedicated to Dale B.Clemens.
In 1995 the Seward Rotary Club sponsored the construction of a pavilion located on the south end of
the lagoon,providing a covered day use picnic shelter.
The Seward Lagoon was originally an intertidal mud flat along the west shoreline of Resurrection
Bay. Infil I cieN clopmciit along Third and Fourth Avenue has formed the lagoon NN c kno\N t«da�, its
brackish w�atcrs still influenced In Resurrection Bay's tidal forces. The l.a-oon is important habitat
to four species of Pacific Salmon. Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, various crocks and Ri\er Otters.
The Lagoon also provides recreational opportunities including birdwatchin,.. a youth-only salmon
fishery.
The subject park was comprised of various properties in the Occanview,Laubner,and Cliff Addition
subdivisions,as well as lands donated by the Leirer family.These lots were platted into one parcel in
the 2015 Benny Benson Park Replat.
Although there is not a formal process in place for naming a park,street names are officially changed
by Council resolution. Pat Williams Park, Hoben Park and K.awabe Park were formally named by
Council resolution as recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission and/or the Planning
and Zoning Commission.Other park units within the c i t\. such as Two Lakes Park and Forest Acres
Park have been recognized in their official naming by the adoption of the 1995 Municipal Lands
Management flan (95-039), and its subsequent `014 revision.
70/103
PIanning and Zoning Agenda Statement
Resolution 2019-019
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A
Seward Comprehensive Plan(2030):3.6.1.2(Bullet 3)Ensure that Municipal
1. land acquired for or converted to long-term or permanent park or recreational. X
uses are officially dedicated as park land. (Page 17)
2. Strategic Plan(1999) : X
RECOMMENDATION:
Commission approve Resolution 2019-019, recommending City Council approval of
officially proclaiming the name"Benny Benson Park"to the City Park located at 1121 Third
Avenue;the area west of Third Avenue,bounded by Dairy Hill Lane and Chamberlin Road,
comprising the Seward Lagoon,Rotary Pavilion, and Benny Benson Memorial,commonly
known as Benny Benson—Lagoon Park.
71/103