SNOHOMISH — A baseball field named for a local baseball Hall of Famer was turned over many years ago so the city could develop it for youth activities.
In 2004, the city held a ceremony to dedicate the then-new Averill Youth Complex.
Today, the one-block area at Second Street and Pine Avenue is the lively home to the Snohomish Skate Park, the Tillikum Kiwanis playground, and the Boys &Girls Club. The Centennial Trail runs along its western border.
The Averill Youth Complex name appears in the city’s list of parks on its website. Herald stories in the years since have identified it that way. Many folks know it by the Averill moniker, if only because of its famous namesake, former Cleveland Indian and Snohomish local Earl Averill.
There’s just one catch.
More than a decade later, the name is not official.
“It was never really something that the community has chimed in on, nor officially adopted,” said Denise Johns, project manager for the city.
The city just last year created rules for naming parks and formed an ad hoc naming committee, on which Johns serves.
Now, she and the six other committee members are taking up the process to recommend names to City Council for the Averill Youth Complex (technically a placeholder name) and four other city-owned properties set aside for parks or recreational use.
“This is a first,” Johns said.
As such, the group welcomes suggestions from Snohomish residents. Yet by early this week, the panel still hadn’t received any.
The deadline to submit suggestions is Sunday.
Other locations for which the city seeks names:
7.2 acres along Lake Avenue. Design work was done and construction was ready to begin when plans to develop this land into a small park and large wetlands reserve were shelved in 2008.
“It almost went, just before everything fell,” said Joan Harryman, 74, who sold the land to the city more than a decade ago. “I keep checking with them and tell them I hope it happens before it’s a memorial park. … That park committee is certainly doing a good job to keep things rolling as best they can.”
The pastoral land where Harryman raised sheep for wool had originally been eyed for the new Snohomish Library, she recalled. A different site was chosen, but the city was still interested. “So I sold it to them so that they couldn’t put houses and things out there. It’s got a creek and things.”
As part of the deal, the park must be named Harryman Park, Harryman Farm Park, or Harryman’s Farm.
11 Lincoln Ave. This 20-acre riverfront parcel was purchased in 2014 from Ed and Edith Stocker. A public boat launch is now there.
As part of the $500,000 deal, the Stockers indicated their preference for calling it Cady or Riverfront park. If it’s named something else without their permission, the city is to pay the Stockers an additional $10,000. The committee will review names with the family before making a recommendation to City Council, Johns said.
The deal also lets the youth soccer club continue to use the site for parking during up to two tournaments each year held on fields across the street.
Eventually, the county’s Centennial Trail, the city’s Riverfront Trail and others could be extended to the park site.
1103 Maple Ave. The city’s master plan for parks has identified this as a future trailhead and rest stop area along the Centennial Trail. It’s not used for anything yet, however. “There’s quite a few restrictions on the use there,” Johns said. “But it still needs a name.”
An old farmhouse is on the land and “is in good shape.”
Previous council discussions indicate rules surrounding use of the land prohibit renting the house out. Snohomish County had owned the property before the city and had a caretaker installed there who maintained the Centennial Trail.
2000 Ludwig Road. The city purchased the 10-acre property in 2013 to be developed as a neighborhood park. But like the Harryman property, those plans have sat on the back burner.
The property includes a house and barn. So in 2015 the city considered interim alternatives, including an artist-in-residence program. That idea was passed over by City Council members. The property is now rented out.
Suggestions for park names must follow the city’s new rules.
Parks can be named for their neighborhood or community, highlight a natural or geological feature, bear a historically or culturally significant name, or honor a historical figure or individual who has made a significant contribution to the city or died in U.S. military service.
The naming committee will review suggestions in February before making its recommendations to City Council.
Name that park
To make a suggestion, review the full criteria and fill out a form at http://tinyurl.com/hwx8stl.
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