Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking community input on a new name for a South Park neighborhood park following recent allegations of sexual abuse against César Chávez, for whom the park was previously named.
The park, located at 700 S. Cloverdale St., is undergoing a renaming process as the city works to select a name that better reflects the community and aligns with its naming policies.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is inviting residents to submit name suggestions to the Parks Naming Committee, which will review proposals and make a recommendation to the department’s superintendent, who will make the final decision.
Proposed names will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the city’s Park Naming Policy. The committee may consider names that reflect the history of the land, natural or geographical features, or the cultural and historical significance of the area.
Under the policy, parks may also be named after individuals if they have been deceased for at least three years and have made significant contributions to parks, recreation or culture in the local community.
Community input is expected to play a key role in shaping the final decision.
The Parks Naming Committee, a subcommittee of the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners, will review all public submissions before forwarding its recommendation.
Residents are encouraged to submit suggestions in writing by April 14. Submissions should include a brief explanation of the proposed name and how it aligns with the city’s naming criteria.
Suggestions can be submitted by email to PKS_BPRC@seattle.gov or by mail to Seattle Parks and Recreation Parks Naming Committee, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109. Additional information, including the full Park Naming Policy, is available at www.seattle.gov/parks.
