Why This Measure Matters

A vibrant and livable community includes art that is accessible to all community members. Ensuring public art is within a ½ mile of each resident helps make this a reality.

What’s the Story?

• This measure follows the measure of percent of land in Olympia within ½ mile of a park entrance. In June 2020, the baseline was established that 50% of residents live within a ½ mile of public art.
• There are currently 153 pieces of public art in the City inventory. The majority of these are in City buildings, most downtown in The Olympia Center and City Hall.
• Strategies toward this goal include adding public art to the City’s 45 parks. Public art installed at Grass Lake Park contributed to the uptick in 2025, in area of Olympia that had no other public art. Upcoming projects in 2026 include installation of plinth sculptures at Kettle View Park and Mission Creek Nature Park, both in areas without much public art.
• The Traffic Box Wrap Project creates added opportunities. 81 traffic box wraps currently adorned with vinyl wraps of artwork will be joined by 10 new boxes in 2026.

Helpful Links:
Olympia’s Public Art Inventory
Traffic Box Wraps
Percival Plinth Project
Olympia Art Crossings

Target

55% of residents will live within ½ mile of public art.

Reporting frequency