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Dubuque Museum of Art Request for Consideration of Planning for Enhancements to Washington Park Copyrighted July 1, 2019 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 11. ITEM TITLE: Dubuque Museum of Art Request for Consideration of Planning for Potential Enhancements to Washington Park SUMMARY: City Manager recommending that the Mayor and City Council receive and file this item and give this request consideration during the annual goal setting that is scheduled forAugust 12, 13 and 14, 2019. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Dubuque Museum of Art-Potential Enhancements to City Manager Memo Washington Park-MVM Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo DuMA Letter of Request Supporting Documentation THE CITY OF Dubuque � AIFA�erlwGh UB E '�� III► Masterpiece on the Mississippi Z°°'�w'2 7A13 2017 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Dubuque Museum of Art Request for Consideration of Planning for Potential Enhancements to Washington Park DATE: June 26, 2019 Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware has provided a letter from Dubuque Museum of Art Executive Director David Schmitz and a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission. I respectfully recommend the Mayor and City Council receive and file this item and give this request consideration during the annual goal setting that is scheduled for August 12, 13 and 14. �� Mic ael C. Van Milligen �� MCVM:jh Attachment cc: David Schmitz, Dubuque Museum of Art Executive Director Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager THE CTTY OF Dubuque �" ui��eNe�ary DUB E 'il��i;' Masterpiece on the Mississippi Z°°' Z°'Z 2013 2017 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager SUBJECT: Dubuque Museum of Art Request for Consideration of Planning for Potential Enhancements to Washington Park DATE: June 25, 2019 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memorandum is to request City Council consideration of the request from the Dubuque Museum of ArYs of planning for potential enhancements to Washington Park. DISCUSSION David Schmitz, Director of the Dubuque Museum of Art, met with representatives from Leisure Services, Planning, Engineering, as well as the City Manager to discuss the potential opportunity to partner on planning for potential park enhancements to Washington Park. Washington Park was reserved for public use by the United States Government with the City originally platted July 2, 1836 and has remained a park ever since. It is approximately 1.3 acres. Washington Park is home to numerous festivals and events each year. It serves as a gathering space and a beautiful entry point from Highway 20 into the downtown Dubuque area. The Parks and Recreation Commission at their May 14, 2019 meeting reviewed the request from Dubuque Museum of Art Executive Director, David Schmitz. He asked for consideration of planning for enhancements to Washington Park to enhance the experience of residents, event goers, and visitors to our area. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended unanimously moving forward with the opportunity for planning enhancements to Washington Park in partnership with the Dubuque Museum of Art. Attached is a letter to the Mayor from Dubuque Museum of Art, Executive Director David Schmitz. ACTION REQUESTED I respectfully transmit the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission for City Council consideration. attachment cc: David Schmitz, Dubuque Museum of Art Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer Jon Dienst, Civil Engineer II 2 .-. / I DUBUQUE museum June 24, 2019 �F art Roy D. Buol Mayor Dubuque City Council Cc: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager Keviil Firnstahl, City Clerk Dear Mayor Buol: I am writing in support of placing an item on the City Council's July 1, 2019 meeting agenda. As has been discussed previously �vith the City Manager and staff and presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Dubuque Museum of Art (the Museum of Art) is seeking to enter into a public-private partnership with the City of Dubuque to gather community input on potential enhancements to Washington Pai-k. The Museum of Art's ii7terest in this project stems fi-om our-close proxinlity to the p�rlc and planned upgrades to otu-faciliry at 701 Locust Street. As our city's oldest public park and original community gathering space, Washinbton Parl< hosts many social and cultural events that beiiefit the Ml�seum of Art along with other downtown organizations and businesses. For soine background, last fall,the Museti�m of Art met with Leistue Services Manager Marie Ware, Pl�iminb Services Manager Laura Carstens, and representatives of the � � � � � � � Planning Seivices and Engineering departments to discuss the potential for upgrades to � � � � � � � Wasllington Pai-Ic. In these early convecsations, our group discussed possiUle upgrades that '� � � � � � � could include additional seating, lighting, wayfinding signage, and aesthetic and/or � � � � � � � recreational elements. Much of our discussion focused on ways of expanding the parlc's � � � � � � � appeal and utilization for community festivals �nd outdoor events. '^ r� ��`� `�� "- �� Given Washington Parlc's historic nature aiid importance, we also discussed existing historical elements within the park, including the axial sidewallcs, trees, gazebo, and 701 LOCUST ST. monuments. To be very clear, there is no interest, either on the part of City staff, the �uBUQUE,iA szooi-bsi� Museuin of Art or its �artners, in altecin� existin�historic elements in Washin�t011 Pal"IC. Ph.563 557 1851 Given their p�st and ongoing roles in efforts to maintain and beautify Washington Parlc,the �om Museum of Art has also engaged cornmunity partners, including Dubuc�lte Main Street and the Dubuque Jaycees, in tllese preliminaiy discussions. � � � � c� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � AN AFFILIATE OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION � � � � � � � � � � � � � � The Dubuque Museum of Art went before the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 14, 2019 to ask them to consider recommending such an effort to the City Council. The Parks and Recreation Commission agreed voted unanimously to recommend that the City undertake a process to gather community input on potential enhancements to Washington Park. As proposed to and discussed by Parks and Recreation Commissioners,this process would be led and managed by City of Dubuque staff and supported by multiple civic � organizations, including the Dubuque Museum of Art. As currently envisioned,multiple � input sessions would be held at publicly accessible venues and could be complimented by j surveys. The recent Imagine Dubuque 2037 process would serve as a model. All � community input gathered would be shared with City Council and the Parks and Recreation j Commission,along with any other relevant Boards, Commissions and staff. � Moreover,the Dubuque Museum of Art proposes to raise the funds required to retain a qualified individual or firm to professionally manage this process and to provide those funds to the City for the purpose of paying the selected individual or firm. Notably, such an effort would align with City of Dubuque Goals 2024, adopted by the City Council in August 2018, and multiple community visioning and master plans, including ; "Diverse Arts, Culture, Parks, and Recreation Experiences and Activities". � Additionally, a model for such a collaboration exists close to home. Nearly a decade ago, � following the historic floods that ravaged much of its downtown, the City of Cedar Rapids, � the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and the Cedar Rapids Public Library came together to � undertake a community visioning process to enhance historic Green Square,the City's sole downtown park. After several rounds of public input and designs, an award-winning$1.9 � M renovation of the park, led by OPN Architects,was unveiled in 2016, resulting in a significant increase in park visitation and utilization. � It is of the utmost importance to the Dubuque Museum of Art, and to the community � partners named,that any community input process moves forward in conformance with the � City Council's goals and priorities, along with those of the Parks and Recreation � Co.mcnission and City staff. Res ectfull � p Y� �.�'.�-�.�w��%:�. David Schmitz Executive Director Dubuque Museum of Art 2