Title
Review and Recommend Whether to Rename Jackson Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Whether to Rename Jackson Park.
BACKGROUND
At the May 10 and June 14, 2018 meetings, the Recreation and Parks Commission (Commission) discussed the history of President Andrew Jackson and discussed the policy and process to rename a park. This was initiated by a written request from a community member to rename the park to Justice Park. At these meetings, there was much discussion about the process to rename a park and to consider bringing it back as a future agenda item.
At the June 11, 2020 meeting, the Commission requested and agreed to place this on the July agenda.
An online local petition was organized to rename Jackson Park and now has 688 signatures in support.
DISCUSSION
History of Jackson Park and President Jackson
All information on Jackson Park below is cited from Alameda at Play, A Century of Public Parks and Recreation in a Bay Area City, by Woodruff Minor. Additional information was received through correspondence with Mr. Minor.
Jackson Park was the City’s first park, however when it opened in 1895 it was named Alameda Park. After a failed petition drive to condemn this commons area on Park Avenue as a public park, the Alameda Board of City Trustees authorized City Attorney E.K. Taylor to begin condemnation proceedings. Mr. Taylor then obtained waivers from over 120 property owners, including from absentee owners who lived in other cities and countries. By 1893, he had obtained all of the waivers and in June 1894, the Superior Court ruled in favor of condemnation. On July 4, 1895, the residents celebrated the park opening and it was the City’s only park for the next 14 years.
The City opened three more parks in 1909. While contemplating names, the Park and Playground Commission chose to name the City parks after an American President, including re-naming its only existing park, Alameda Park, as Jackson Park after President Andrew Jackson. The Park and Playground Commission first named a new park in honor of President Abraham Lincoln with the centennial of his birth being February 12, 1909. This was also the year that Lincoln School and Lincoln Avenue were renamed in his honor and the Lincoln penny was placed in circulation. It was the first park to be named after a president and was approved by City Council in January 1909.
The City received title of the future McKinley Park property in May 1909. It was named McKinley Park to memorialize President William McKinley who had been assassinated just a few years earlier in 1901.
The City received the deed and paid $45,000 for Washington Park on August 24, 1908. It was formally dedicated on February 24, 1912, which was two days after the opening of Washington School on Washington’s birthday.
In May 1909, the City Council approved the names of Washington, McKinley and Jackson Parks. After further research, there appears to be no known reason as to why the Park and Playground Commission specifically chose Andrew Jackson when re-naming Alameda Park after a President.
Regarding the history of President Andrew Jackson, the following issues are well documented.
• Jackson owned more than 300 people over 66 years, all of whom were enslaved working the crops at his plantation known as the Hermitage;
• In 1830, as President, he signed the Indian Removal Act, which gave the federal government the power to exchange land held by Native Americans in the southeast with land in the west. This led to what is known as the “Trail of Tears” due to the large number of Native Americans who died during their forced relocation to land in the west.
Park Renaming Process
The City’s Naming Policy stipulates that a comprehensive study be conducted to determine how the existing name was conceived and the impacts for renaming the facility. The above information includes all currently known information about how the name of Jackson Park was conceived.
If the Commission votes to rename Jackson Park then there are several options on how to choose a new name. The Commission is encouraged to discuss and determine a process to rename Jackson Park. Options could include:
1) At the next Commission meeting, utilize the existing list of park names (Exhibit 1) or identify a new name and make a final park name recommendation to the City Council.
2) Establish a subcommittee or request that city staff to facilitate a community committee that discusses naming options and makes a name recommendation to the Commission. This committee could include a Commissioner, residents living near the park, local historians representing all aspects of Alameda’s history, and other interested community members.
3) Request that staff conduct a social media and online solicitation for names that are brought to the Commission for discussion at a public meeting.
Per the City’s Naming Policy, the Recreation and Parks Commission may recommend a name to the City Council, which has final authority on whether to rename a park and approval on the new park name.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost to rename a park is fairly minimal. It requires replacing the concrete ARPD park sign, which costs $10,000 each for purchase and installation as well as changing Alameda written communications and maps in print and online for a nominal cost.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and Recommend Whether to Rename Jackson Park
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibit:
1. Alameda Park and Recreation Facilities Name List