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Commission supports comment to Park Board on proposal to rename Nokomis beach for longtime parks planner Al Whitman
Summary
The commission reviewed a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board proposal to rename the east-side Lake Nokomis beach to honor Al Whitman; commissioners expressed support and staff will forward HPC comments to the park board.
CPED staff asked the Heritage Preservation Commission on Tuesday for advisory comments on a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board naming request to rename the east-side Lake Nokomis beach as the Al Whitman Fiftieth Street Beach.
Erin Kaye, senior city planner in CPED’s historic-preservation subsection, said the nomination was submitted by Claire Dombrock (Whitman’s daughter) and her husband following Whitman’s death in 2023. The nomination cites Whitman’s nearly 30 years of service to the Park Board — including planning and development work on community centers, park acquisition and design standards — and notes his particular fondness for Lake Nokomis.
Kaye said the Park Board, in considering facility and park name changes, seeks input from the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office; the HPC’s role in this case is advisory only.
Commissioners who spoke at the meeting expressed support for the naming request. Commissioner Corrado, who works in landscape architecture, said the parks system is “collective identity” and offered support for the nomination; Vice Chair Masten also spoke in favor. Kaye said staff will transmit the commission’s comments to the Park Board as it takes a final decision.
No formal HPC action was required or taken; staff recorded commissioners’ supportive comments to include in a letter to the Park Board.
