STATE CAPITOL STATE PARK Comprehensive Park Plan • 2010 The mission of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is to provide and protect outstanding natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational sites for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations. OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 725 Summer Street N.E., Suite C Salem, Oregon 97301-0792 Information Center: 1-800-551-6949 egov.oregon.gov/OPRD/index.shtml Title: State Capitol State Park, Parkwide Plan 2010 Prepared by: Kathy Schutt Publication Rights: Information in this report may be copied and used with the condition that credit is give to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. This report has been prepared for in-house use and will not be made available for sale. Photographs and graphics may not be reproduced for reuse without permission of the owners or the repositories noted in the captions. Booklet Images: OPRD Archives 2010 – State Capitol State Park, Historic images from Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collections, Salem Public Library, Salem, Oregon and OSU Archives Table of Contents 01: Plan Introduction and Summary ....................................................................1 02: History of the Park Site ...................................................................................9 03: Park Context ..................................................................................................19 04: Park Assessments ..........................................................................................25 05: Park Visitors ...................................................................................................39 06: Goals for Park Management .........................................................................43 07: Interpretation and Way Finding ...................................................................45 08: Site Improvement Strategies ........................................................................57 09: Operation Park Management Strategies .....................................................63 10: Appendices ....................................................................................................67 PARKWIDE PLAN 2010 i ii STATE CAPITOL STATE PARK Table of Maps and Diagrams Site Improvement Plan.............................................................................................7 Parks and Open Space -- Vision 2020 ....................................................................23 Vegetation Plan ......................................................................................................33 Vegetation List ........................................................................................................35 Existing Honorary Features ...................................................................................37 Site Improvement Plan...........................................................................................61 PARKWIDE PLAN 2010 iii iv STATE CAPITOL STATE PARK 01: Plan Introduction and Summary Introduction State Capitol State Park became a new state replacing worn out landscaping, returning the park in 2008, under ORS 390.111, based fountains to seasonal operation, and adding on Senate Bill 632. The Oregon Parks and new signage and seating. At the same time, Recreation Department (OPRD) was given two new public restroom buildings and a the responsibility for managing the new park, new chlorination and lter system for Wall of which includes three smaller, existing park Water were constructed by the Department of areas -- Willson Park on the west, Capitol Park Administrative Services within the park. to the east and the Capitol Park Mall to the north of the Capitol building. Park Vision The vision for State Capitol State Park is to After passage of Senate Bill 632, OPRD and provide a park-like setting and memorable the Department of Administrative Services experiences for a broad set of visitors, at the began the process of transferring management seat of state government and within the heart responsibility for the park. In that interim of Salem; and to enhance visitors’ experiences time OPRD committed to complete a plan by showing them more about the history and that would direct the use, management and purpose of the place. improvement of the park into the future. State Capitol State Park will provide an OPRD The overall purpose of this plan is to provide State Park experience at the state’s Capitol. direction to guide the future management of This includes providing for the qualities one this park, and to communicate that direction would expect to nd at a state park, such as to the many agencies and groups that have a the natural, cultural, scenic and recreational vested interest in this park. This will enable opportunities that park visitors look for, as well future park management to be consistent and as the highest standards of cleanliness, safety will provide a solid basis for management and well-maintained facilities. decision-making as is needed. Park Roles Some work has already been completed at the park. Prior to the creation of the plan, The park has several distinct roles that overlap OPRD completed a number of needed with each other. Some of these roles are projects including the Tribal Walk of Flags, unusual for a state park, but they re ect the Fallen Workers’ Memorial, Capitol Fountain unique location, setting and purpose of this plantings, pruning overgrown vegetation, PARKWIDE PLAN 2010 1 site. Understanding the roles the park plays contribute to the network of parks and for visitors provides a strong basis for forming open spaces in central Salem. This park park management goals, objectives, strategies, will invite visitors to play and relax outside concepts and actions. and to enjoy the city. The Seat of State Government A Place to Welcome Diverse Visitors State Capitol State Park is the home of A broad set of visitors use the park now, Oregon’s state government. The park’s including neighborhood residents, college buildings, layout, features, setting and students and staff from the neighboring activities have been provided in a way Willamette University, nursery school that highlights and connects the central groups, vacationing travelers to the functions of state government with each capital and the city of Salem, cyclists other and with the citizens of Oregon. and pedestrians who are passing through, An Urban Park people coming to events, nearby of ce State Capitol State Park is located in workers, the legislature, the Governor and the core of the City of Salem and will their staffs. 2 STATE CAPITOL STATE PARK A Place for Special Events administrative contacts, and to agency program The large open space in the center of staff, to help to assure that the plan will t the mall area of the park, along with the within the needs, parameters and constraints pavement in Court Street, offers space that apply to the park. for large events, staging areas for news coverage and public gatherings related to In the end, the plan is the vehicle for OPRD to political decisions and processes. This seek agreement with, the state Department of space also serves other support functions Administrative Services that owns the site, our related to state government or city services. partners at the City of Salem and city advocacy groups, and with the various state government What Will the Plan Do? commissions, committees and boards that oversee state lands in Salem. This document outlines a parkwide management and improvement plan for The Planning Process State Capitol State Park. Based on the vision and roles for the park, the plan provides an In late 2009, OPRD staff invited a understanding of and direction about: Stakeholders Group to join the planning The park’s history, context, features, spaces process. Members were recommended by park and circulation, management and/or directly requested to be Who the park visitors are and how they included. They included: would like to experience the park Department of Administrative Services Parkwide management goals, Willamette University Park strategies, concepts, themes and Go Downtown Salem “styles” for interpretation, way- nding, Oregon Capitol Foundation open space, plantings, site furniture and Legislative Administration other installations; and Salem Chamber of Commerce The management of visitors experiences, Salem Keizer Transit coordination with partners, and the care Can Do Neighborhood and protection of the park. Salem Public Works Salem Planning The park plan links up with the site’s history Salem Vision 2020 and with the City of Salem’s plans for the Capitol Mall Patrol downtown and surrounding area. It attempts to Mission Mill dovetail with plans that have previously been completed for the State Capitol Building and In January, 2010, the Stakeholder Group met Court Street, the west end of Willson Park, the with OPRD and was briefed on the planning Department of Transportation Building site, project. They were asked to describe what Willamette University and the Department of the State Park might mean to them and how it Administrative Services’ Capitol Mall Area. might be improved for all. The planning process provided a forum for A Technical Advisory Group was identi ed discussing the future of the park with our and invited to offer written comments. partners and other interested groups. We They included: worked with a large Stakeholder Group Department of Transportation Support that represented city and state government, Services the neighborhood,