Rebecca Howard Park Plan

About Rebecca Howard Park

In 2018, the City of Olympia bought a corner parcel in downtown Olympia for economic development. During the 2020 Black Lives Matters protest in response to the murder of George Floyd, the focus for the site shifted from housing to healing to provide a safe place for community members to find peace, connection, and belonging. The property was then transferred over to the Olympia Parks Department to develop into a park.

A stakeholder group of interested City staff and community members was formed to discuss the possibilities for this space, which led to its renaming to Rebecca Howard Park in honor of Olympia’s first Black businesswoman in the early years of the Pacific Northwest. Revered and respected for her hospitality, humor and no-nonsense demeanor, Howard was a well-loved Olympia pioneer. The stakeholder group identified five park purpose-and-goal statements to help assist with preliminary design concepts for the site, they included:

1. To celebrate, honor, and recognize the local history and contributions of our African American and Black community members.
2. To provide a safe place for peace and healing, that honors representation and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion.
3. To promote equity, respect, and learning as we build community together.
4. To find common ground with each other through storytelling, performance and art - especially stories, performances, and art from, or promoted by and led by our African American and/or Black community members.
5. To build strong connections with the surrounding neighbors and organizations.

What’s Happening Now?

In fall 2024, the City of Olympia hired a design and engineering team and formed a new steering committee centering Black community leadership to lead the initiative to reimagine Rebecca Howard Park. With several rounds of community engagement planned from spring to summer of 2025, the group will work towards a Site Development Plan. Guided by the vision set forward by the stakeholder group, the plan will incorporate spaces for community gathering, healing and connection, and storytelling elements that honor the deep roots of Black communities in Thurston County. This project is an incredible opportunity for Olympia to engage in collective healing and transformation through uncovering the stories of the past, learning about the needs of the present, and envisioning a just future.

What’s a Site Development Plan?

The Site Development Plan is a report that illustrates the design of Rebecca Howard Park and allows the City of Olympia to move forward with setting a budget to allocate funds and apply for grants. The report will provide a more detailed design plan for Rebecca Howard Park including planting, paving, pathways, structures, seating, and opportunities for art as well as technical memos for stormwater, parking, and cost estimates. It will document the engagement process including input and feedback provided by the steering committee and community members.

How to get involved

In spring and summer 2025 there will be opportunities to provide ideas and feedback on the park design. To get information about upcoming events on this park project and others, please subscribe to the “Parks & Recreation” E-news group and continue checking this page for the latest information.