Naming Of Everett’s Newest Park May Be Delayed Due To “One-Year-Rule”

Last month we told you the City of Everett Parks Department was accepting suggestions for the naming of the city’s newest park being planned at the southern portion of the new Everett YMCA in the 4700 block of Colby.

Per Everett City Council member Brenda Stonecipher, an unusually high number of people (over one hundred) submitted names for the Parks Board to consider and then pass along to the Everett Historical Commission for nomination to the Everett City Council.

Stonecipher told the council at their meeting last Wednesday that among names being considered for the new park were those of two people who had not been deceased for at least one year. Those two names were suggested by multiple people.

When it comes to naming buildings, streets, parks and other official locations within the Everett City limits there is an official naming policy that says in order to name a city building, street, public space, facility, structure, park or natural area after a person who is deceased at least one year must have elapsed from the time they passed.

Stonecipher said the Parks Board decided that since the new park won’t be completed until the year 2020 the Parks Board could wait to submit suggestions to the Historic Commission which would then include all of the names recently submitted.

The Historical Commission is set to hold a public hearing on Tuesday June 26th at 6:30 PM in the hearing room on the 8th floor of the Wall Street Building, 2930 Wetmore in downtown Everett. At that time the Historical Commission will review the proposed names and make a recommendation to the Everett City Council. It is not known if the Historical Commission will follow the Park Board’s decision to hold off on the naming recommendation.

Either way the final decision on the naming of the new park is up to the full Everett City Council.