Wednesday night (Jan. 11) the Planning Board unanimously approved recommending the name “Hazel Miller Plaza” to the city council for the new park under construction at the corner of 5th and Maple in downtown Edmonds. 

If the recommended name is approved by council, the Hazel Miller Foundation will provide an $88,000 grant toward the costs to construct the park. 

The board also recommended that signage in the park include biographical information about Ms. Miller so visitors to the park can be aware of her history in the area and in Edmonds. 

Since 2007, many other citizens, including the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club, Edmonds in Bloom and several individuals, have made significant contributions to the acquisition and development of the park and they will also be appropriately and visibly recognized. 

The Floretum Garden Club has agreed to actively participate in maintaining the park along with city park maintenance personnel.

The park is due to be completed in early spring of this year and construction is proceeding on budget. 

The Planning Board also serves as the Park Board, and received a quarterly report from Parks and Recreation Director Carrie Hite on completed and ongoing park projects and recreation activities. 

The full report is available on the city website. 

Finally, Phil Lovell was re-elected Planning Board chair and Valerie Stewart was elected as vice-chair for 2012.