HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/05/2013 09 Designation of a Kiwanis Park Ball Field In Memory Of Barney Smith •
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.
For Meeting of: February 5, 2013
ITEM TITLE: Resolution naming a ball field at Kiwanis Park in memory
of an honored Lions Club Member Barney Smith
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works
Ken Wilkinson, Parks and Recreation Manager
Mark Kunkler, Senior Assistant City Attorney
CONTACT Ken Wilkinson, Parks and Recreation Manager, 509-576 -
PERSON /TELEPHONE: 6416
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The Lions Clubs in Yakima donated funds for the construction of the park improvements at
Kiwanis Park and have requested that one of the three new ball fields at Kiwanis Park be
named in memory of Barney Smith. Barney was a long time Lions Club member and
contributed his time and efforts for the betterment of the community.
Resolution X Ordinance Other
(specify)
Contract: Mail to:
Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date:
Insurance Required? No
Funding Phone:
Source:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: , City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff respectfully requests the City Council adopt the Resolution to name a field at Kiwanis
Park in memory of Barney Smith.
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the naming of a ball field at Kiwanis Park
after Barney Smith at the December 12, 2012 regular meeting and unanimously endorsed
the request.
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ATTACHMENTS:
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❑ Resolution
❑ bio
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RESOLUTION NO R -2012-
A RESOLUTION Naming a ball field at Kiwanis Park in Memory of Barney Smith, and
authorizing City Manager to accomplish such designation.
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has received a request to name one of the new
ball fields at Kiwanis Park in Memory of Barney Smith, and
WHEREAS, the City Council, pursuant to Resolution No 2005 -51, has adopted
policies and procedures governing the naming and renaming of public parks and parks
and recreation facilities, and has authorized naming of such facilities for an individual who
has contributed outstanding civic service to the City primarily in the area of parks and
recreation and who has been deceased for a period of at least one year; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the policies adopted in Resolution No 2005 -51, the City
of Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission has considered the requested change of
name, and has made a recommendation supporting such change of name, and
WHEREAS, the City Council has received such recommendation and concurs that
the name of the field shall be 'Barney Smith Field" and that such action is an honor
befitting the memory of Barney Smith and her service to the City of Yakima, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA.
1 That the name of the field will be " Barney Smith Field ;" and
2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to implement such change of
name and to appropriately designate the name of such public park facility in the records of
the City of Yakima and on signage for such park.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this day of , 2012.
ATTEST Micah Cawley, Mayor
Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk
Byron L (Barney) Smith obituary
Byron L (Barney) Smith was born June 27 1916 in MacKenzie
County North Dakota to Anna Elizabeth Ferguson Smith and Leroy
— __ Edison Smith `Lil Byron from across the river' (as he was known to
his cousins) grew up m a close knit farming community centered on hard
work the one -room schoolhouse the Grange and the church An uncle
nicknamed him `Barney' and ft stuck He moved with his parents and
sister to the big town of Yakima during the Dust Bowl leaving behind
w" his beloved horse `Custer' His dad Leroy was a fiddler cowboy and
farmer and his mom Annie an ambitious gardener and loving
homemaker
Barney worked in the seed business while attending school and a few years after graduating from
Yakima High School he and his friend took a motorcycle trip to Alaska where they landed jobs driving
heavy equipment vehicles helping to build the Alaska Highway partly paid with Copper River salmon
Upon returning from Alaska he marred andlorned the Army in 1942 He was stationed in Spokane and
then deployed to the South Pacific during World War II for three and a half years where he served as a
staff sergeant Upon his return to Yakima he worked for and became general manager of the Kollman
Warner company selling wholesale seed
Barney and Grace had three daughters Ann Janet and Barbara The family lived on Pickens Road in
a lively neighborhood ofyoung families At home on Pickens Road family enterprises included growing
flower and vegetable gardens and caring for calves lambs and chickens As district manager and seed
sales manager for North Coast Seed Company Barney s sa les territory covered the Northwest Many of
his seed and gardening supply customers became lifelong friends He enlisted the entire family s help in
the Barney Smith Sales Company helping to make package and distnbute home and garden products
Barney was a garden wnter creating articles on gardening techniques and products for garden and
seed trade magazines including Organic Gardening in the 1950s In 1968 he asked the newspaper why
there was no local gardening column and ft was suggested that he wnte one He became the local garden
editor and wrote `Barney Smith In the Garden' for the Yakima Herald Republic for 33 years also
presenting a garden spot for KIT radio He was a member of the Garden Wnters Association of America
president of Washington North Idaho Seed Association president of Washington Pesticide Consultants
Association a very enthusiastic member and president of the Yakima Lions Club a Lions District
Governor and a twenty year Board member of the Yakima Area Arboretum He was a strong supporter of
and frequent presenter to area garden dubs