OXNARD : New Gym’s Name Honors Veterans

Oxnard city officials named a new gymnasium in Colonia Park Tuesday, two weeks after the long-awaited facility opened.

Despite a request to name the gym after a living Latino leader, the council voted unanimously to call it La Colonia Memorial Park Veterans Gymnasium. The vote followed a public hearing at which several residents spoke in favor of naming the park in honor of veterans.

“We used the process you on the council suggested to ask for this name and now we ask you to accept it,” said Harry D. Cortez, a veteran who is now a commercial air specialist at Point Mugu. Cortez, who lived in the Colonia area for 30 years, said he often works with kids at the gym. “It is right to honor the veterans,” he said.

But Oxnard resident Mike Espinoza, who is also a veteran, suggested naming the park after one of several Latino leaders, including farm labor organizer Cesar Chavez. The park should “have a meaningful name which would instill a sense of pride in the community,” Espinoza said.

However, city officials said an Oxnard ordinance prohibits naming city buildings after living people.

Councilman Bedford Pinkard was initially reluctant to support the name, saying he preferred calling the gym Colonia Park Gym. After the public comment, Pinkard joined the vote to make the gym a memorial.

“Whatever you name it, it’s still going to be Colonia Park gym,” Pinkard said

A dedication ceremony is set for Feb. 20 at the park, at Marquita Street near 1st Street.