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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Heritage Park Dedication19�82 �,ILIFp�R1y�D DATE: April 5, 2011 STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL File # ❑OZ®©-0[q TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: 2 Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJECT: Dublin Heritage Park and Museums Dedication Event Prepared By: John Hartnett, Heritage and Cultural Arts Manager and Elizabeth Isles, Heritage Center Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will receive a report on the proposed plans for the Grand Opening and Dedication of the Dublin Heritage Park & Museums. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds for the dedication event are included in the FY 2010-2011 budget. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council approve the proposed plan for the Grand Opening of the Heritage Park & Museums and indicate the preferred date for the event. Submitted by: Parks and Community Services Director Reviewed by: Assistant City Manager Page 1 of ITEM NO. '�4' t BACKGROUND: Phase I of the new Dublin Heritage Park and Museums is nearing completion. The City has created a dynamic park that provides a picturesque place to walk, relax, picnic, play and explore Dublin's heritage. Historical buildings from the Kolb Farm are the focal point of this new 4.3- acre park, which also encompasses the existing Murray Schoolhouse, Old St. Raymond Church and the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Attachment 1 is a site plan showing the amenities in Phase I, which include the following: • Kolb House -The main house, which is called the Kolb House, is a Craftsman Bungalow. The two-story building is outfitted with all original "Arts & Crafts" style furniture, fine china and household items that the Kolb family used between the years 1864-1957. The building will serve as a museum and volunteer docents will guide visitors through the rooms of the Kolb House.. Before exiting, guests may visit "The Back Porch," a gift shop featuring local Dublin history books, postcards and country gifts and antiques. • Sunday School Barn -This landmark, which served as Dublin's first Sunday School, will become a venue for arts classes, theatrical presentations, concerts, barn-dances and events. The rustic interior includes theatrical lighting and a sound system and the facility will be available for rental opportunities. • Old Kolb House -This small building, which served as the original family home, has been converted into restrooms in the front, and the back tool-room has been redesigned as an art/ceramic studio. The City will start offering ceramic classes in the fall, and will have a kiln on-site. • 'Hay Barn -The Hay Barn is a large covered building that will be used for storing the original Kolb tractor and a Studebaker wagon, which have recently been restored. Additionally, the space could be used as a picnic shelter for youth summer camps. • Grounds -The spacious outdoor amenities include a large front and side lawn, outdoor concrete stage and seating wall (ideal for outdoor music events) and a number of large farm implements from the original Kolb Ranch which have been placed adjacent to the Sunday School Barn and enclosed for safety. Gardens, picnic tables and walking paths complete the park and provide areas for recreational use. Dedication Ceremony Date Major renovation of the buildings and grounds is now complete and minor punch list items are being completed. Staff anticipates moving the Kolb family collections into the Kolb House beginning in early April. Art classes and summer camps are tentatively scheduled to begin June 20. Staff will need a few months to allow adequate time to stage the collection in the Kolb House, allow time for plant establishment, and select and purchase furniture and equipment for alf the buildings. Staff recommends that the Grand Opening and Dedication of the site be held on either Saturday, June 25 or Saturday, July 2, or an alternate date at the City Council's direction. Although July 2nd is the start of a three-day weekend it has been suggested as this is the only date where most of the Kolb family can be in attendance. Page 2 of 4 Potential Event Components Staff envisions the event beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony including presentations by local dignitaries, the City's Historian and Poet Laureate and the Kolb family. Following the ceremony, Staff is recommending that the following activities be held in each area of the park and buildings including the Murray Schoolhouse and St. Raymond Church as described below. At the Kolb House, tours will be conducted by volunteer docents with an opportunity to purchase some historical items at the "Back Porch Gift Shop", including a new book about the Kolb family that has been created specifically for this occasion. Carol Kolb Strom provided the photographs and family history and former City Councilmember Claudia McCormick wrote the narrative for the book. In the Sunday School Barn, Dublin's local Bluegrass and Irish Jam groups will provide continuous music throughout the day. Seating will be available for those who wish to eat and listen at the same time. At the entrance to the Art/Ceramics Studio, an outdoor arts and crafts project will be made available for youth attending the event. At the lawn/outdoor stage area, in recognition of the Kolb family's German heritage, a music concert featuring German music will be featured, with refreshments such as root beer, soft pretzels, hot dogs/brats and German potato salad, served from an outdoor tent. The adjacent picnic tables provide an eating area with pop-up canopies providing shade. Wagon rides for youth will be conducted around the grounds of the Heritage Park. The wagon will be pulled by the Kolb Tractor. Both the wagon and tractor have been completely restored this past year. In St. Raymond Church, a film about the Kolb Family and the re-location of the farm buildings back to Dublin, made available by the Dublin Historical Preservation Association and produced by Tri-Valley Community Television, will be playing continuously on the Big Screen TV. In the Murray Schoolhouse, the four Oral Histories produced by the Oraf History Committee volunteers will be playing continuously throughout the day, and "The Journey" exhibit will be open for tours, as well. At the March 10th Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission meeting, the Commission unanimously supported the event components. Additionally, the Commission recommended adding the following: • Conduct tours of the Pioneer Cemetery • Have an outdoor booth set up to hand out information and materials for the City and Non-Profit organizations that support the preservation of Dublin's heritage and promotion of cultural experiences. • Provide a "handout" that provides information on the building and park amenities, especially as they relate to the Kolb Family. Page 3 of 4 At the March 21St Parks and Community Services Commission meeting, the Commission also unanimously supported the event components. Additionally, there was concern expressed by several of the Commissioners regarding the July 2"d date since it is a three-day weekend. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: A copy of the Staff Report was distributed to the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission, the Parks and Community Services Commission, the Dublin. Historical Preservation Association and Carol Kolb Strom. ATTACHMENTS 1. Map of Heritage Park and Museums Page 4 of 4 i. i ~o ` ~ ~ _ ° Haybarn Stage I TractorMlagon German Band ~ ' ' ~ ' ' ' C I T Y O F D U B L I N Rides ~IERITAGE PARK MUSEUMS ~ . I Dedication Event ~ s Picnic Tables Sunday I School Barn . Dublin Heritage Old Kolb House I Jam Band Ceramic Art Room Art Demos ~ I West Lawn- Refreshments D V Murray B Schoolhouse L Oral History N . F ronfi Lawn - Kolb House L St. Raymond Tours Church D Ko{b Video ~ I I ~ U a s - DONLON WAY - ~ _ y