Name Change Poll: Initial Results

Yesterday’s name change poll asked two questions. (1) Should the name of our park be changed? (2) If yes, what should be the new name? There was a space for comments.

Results of the first 77 responses showed an almost unanimous vote in favor of changing the name. 74 votes or 96.1 percent voted to change the name. Three votes were cast to “leave it alone.”

As for what should be the new name, exactly half the 72 responses were in favor of “Dolores Huerta Park.” The other half was spread over a wide range:

• Berkeley Marina
• there should be a renaming process; Dolores Huerta can and should be an option.
• Farmworkers Park
• Berkeley Marina Park
• Either Dolores Huerta or else Farmworkers Park
• I don’t think it should be named after a person
• Shoreline Park? Owl Park? FreshAir Park? Etc.
• Owl Park, Passages Park, Migration Park…
• North Waterfront Park
• California Farmworkers Park
• People Power Park
• I like People Power Park but many of my women friends are in favor of Doleres Huerta
• West Berkeley Bayside
• UFW Park
• North Waterfront Park
• or an Indigenous name!
• Mother Nature
• East Bay Regional Nature Area
• Not sure yet… would like to hear more comments- maybe Huerta, maybe not…
• ?
• Farmworker Park
• Berkeley Waterfront Park
• Bayview Park
• North waterfront
• Berkeley Owl Park
• How about an indigenous name? Perhaps the word they used for the body of water we call the San Francisco Bay.
• Berkeley something something–don’t know what the name would be, but probably the name previous to Cesar Chavez; and it should have Berkeley in it.
• Obama Park
• A name honoring our native first Americans who lived on and were stewards of the land and nature
• have to think more
• East Bay Regional Park Nature Area
• Buena Vista Nature Area
• Bay View Nature Area
• Berkeley Bay Park
• Oceanview Park

In the Comments section, 30 people left responses:

• It’s confusing that it’s part of a state park (isn’t it?) and also connected somehow with EBRPD. Now it’ll be even more confusing with a name change. Does “Berkeley Meadow” refer to same area?
• Nobody is flawless. It’s time to stop naming after people.
• The name needs to be changed. Who would want to think about him and his crimes every time one goes there? We want to contemplate nature and beauty, not human ugliness.
• The name needs to change, predators cannot be honored and the women who suffered should be honored
• More and more I think we should do less of venerating individuals and naming public spaces after them. It’s also natural for the official names of places to change. I think the park’s name should reflect something about its location, history, or one of its many purposes (ecologically, socially, etc).
• Honor the birds and other creatures who live in the park as well as humans
• Adding to my previous submission, since the owls and migrating seabirds are special to this part of Berkeley
• Change it to a neutral name, this what is was originally called
• The Solar Calendar should remove the stone marking Chávez’ birthday and replace it with one for Dolores Huerta
• Glad you’re doing this! Unfortunate, I can’t think of a better name.
• Dolores Huerta Park is an obvious first choice, but it probably makes sense for the city to put some thought into this and maybe consider other, possibly nature-based names.
• Thanks Marty!
• I loved the distinction made a couple of times in the NYTIMES article that the United Farm Workers was made up of many people, including many women, and not just Mr. Chavez. I believe one of his victims is quoted to the effect that the Movement is the hero, not one man.
• Si se puede!
• This would be a great way to honor her and the farmworker’s union.
• Let’s stop naming places and streets after people unless they actually create them.
• Enough of the patriarchy. Cesar Chavez fits in with all executive abusers: Trump, Clinton, Dershowitz, Summers, Epstein, Weinstein et al.
• Sooner the better!
• No human being names.
• And please not MLK Park, after another serial, sexual predator.
• Dolores Huerta did much of the work that Cesar Chavez was credited with, so I think she deserves to be honored, but also, include some of the nature that might help protect the animals, like Dolores Huerta/Ground Squirrel/Owl Park
• This whole thing is so terribly sad.
• See above
• IDEAS: Dolores Huerta Park or something like Farmworker Memorial Park
• Celebrate the facets of the man that caused the park to be named after him. All humans are flawed, but history is past, late for regrets, sorry to learn this aspect of his personal life.
• Or Burrowing Owl Park but I think Dolores is better.
• My second choice was Dolores Huerta Park
• Shocking news. but seems that so many influential men have abused and raped women and girls. When will all men start respecting women and girls of all ages? It’s way past due!!
• I appreciate the swift action you’re taking to address this issue. We must hold these men accountable for their crimes. Enough is enough.
• Only those with a Gmail address can answer this
• Would there be away to make it a contextual experience; explain the horror of his actions and not hide his truth. This could support women who are afraid to speak the truth.

The poll is still open. You can participate, click this link.

As this is a City of Berkeley park, it’s up to Berkeley City Council to decide the park’s name. As of this writing, there has been no action on this issue.