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Bellevue begins public naming process for park above Sound Transit south portal
Summary
City staff told the Parks board the council directed them to start a public naming process for the new park at 112th and Main over the Sound Transit south portal; staff launched an online survey and plan to return with recommendations in June including a possible community-led installation interpreting Japanese American history
City staff have launched a public process to name Bellevue’s newest park, the site located above Sound Transit’s south light-rail tunnel portal at 112th Avenue and Main Street, staff said at the Parks & Community Services Board meeting.
Director Shiozaki said the city council directed staff to begin a naming process after the site’s ownership transferred to the city last fall. “We’ve been asked to start this naming process, and it actually is underway now,” the director said. Staff posted an online survey soliciting name suggestions; the survey will run through March and into April and staff will screen suggestions against council-established naming criteria before bringing a recommendation to the park board, the director said.
Shiozaki also said staff are exploring a partnership with a local group on a community-led permanent installation to interpret and commemorate the history of the Japanese American community at that park site. Staff indicated they expect to bring the naming recommendation and related materials to the board for consideration in June.
Board members asked procedural questions about the selection and the process. Shiozaki said some aspects of the council’s selection discussion happened in executive session and could not be disclosed, but that council considered community involvement, experience serving on commissions and lived experience as factors in a separate recent council appointment. The board did not take a vote; the item was informational and staff confirmed the next step is a formal recommendation back to the board with the compiled and vetted name suggestions.
