The West Central Park was created in May 2013 to offer a communal space to rest, gather, and step back from the pressures of everyday life. As we move into our 14th year, we will be transitioning from a public charity model to a foundation, aiming to better resource the Park for future growth through more community involvement. We aim to further offer a variety of community events by teaming up with local organizations.
From 1926, The Rowland Lumber Company occupied the land where the Park now sits. The Lumber Company went out of business in the early 80’s and was occupied by a thrift shop called the Treasure Chest. The building was finally torn down in 1997. Soon after demolition was completed, the property was purchased by a local Olympia resident who made several attempts to sell the property commercially over the next 16 years to several major gas stations and convenience store developers. However, the attempted sales received harsh criticism from the local community and the project was finally abandoned in mid November 2012, leaving the property up for sale again. Finally on December 3, 2012, the vacant corner lot was purchased once and for all to make way for the West Central Park Project and the future home of the West Central Park Neighborhood Center.
Our current plans include continuing our growing Saturday Market, sponsoring more free concerts with our beautiful new music pavilion, initiating a membership program to help pay for more events, and free movie nights too!
Get Involved
We want to the community to be hands on this Park so we want your feedback, and we welcome interested local individuals to our board when there are openings. In particular, we need individuals who can head a volunteer day, manage a movie night or who can manage and sponsor a community event. Contact us if you’re interested in getting involved!
Contact the West Central Park Foundation Team
West Central Park – Public Use Policy
The West Central Park Project is a privately owned, publicly accessible community space managed by a non-profit organization. It is not part of the City of Olympia or Thurston County parks departments and is therefore subject to its own rules and regulations for use. To maintain a peaceful, inclusive, and non-partisan environment for all visitors, political activities are not permitted on park grounds.
This includes:
- Tabling or distributing materials related to political candidates, campaigns, or causes
- Signature gathering for petitions
- Rallies, demonstrations, or other politically affiliated events
These policies apply at all times and to all areas of the park. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping West Central Park a welcoming space for everyone.
Saturday Market at West Central Park – Vendor and Tabling Policy
The Saturday Market at West Central Park is hosted by our non-profit organization in alignment with the West Central Park Projects public use policies and our commitment to an inclusive, community-focused atmosphere. In accordance with the West Central Park Public Use Policy, political activities are not permitted during the market or on market grounds.
This includes:
- Tabling
- Signature gathering
- Distribution of political materials
Additionally, due to space limitations and the nature of our market:
- Only approved vendors are permitted to set up booths during market hours
- Tabling for non-profit causes, community groups, or other non-commercial entities is not allowed, regardless of affiliation
- The market is focused solely on vendors selling goods directly to the public
These policies help ensure the Saturday Market remains a vibrant, focused, and welcoming experience for shoppers and vendors alike. Thank you for respecting these guidelines.