Council Seeks Consensus Over Naming of Park
No one opposes turning vacant land adjacent to the Long Beach Freeway into the city’s newest park. The only problem has been reaching consensus over the park’s name.
City Councilwoman Jenny Oropeza suggested Cesar Chavez Unity Park. But a City Council committee dropped “Unity” from the proposed name after a controversy developed over the naming process.
Residents pointed out during community meetings that the park will be one of the first things visitors to downtown Long Beach will see when they exit the Long Beach Freeway at Broadway. Some argue that the park should not honor an individual but should instead have a geographic name. Gateway Park or Golden Gateway are two suggestions.
Oropeza and the city attorney said that the naming process consists of one name being proposed, debated and voted on before others are formally considered. The City Council will vote on the name Cesar Chavez Park at Tuesday’s meeting.
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