Council hears Brobeck family testimony on Homestead Park renaming; directs parks commission to formally review

Family members and the University Place Historical Society asked the City Council on July 21 to add the Brobeck family name to Homestead Park signage to reflect the property's history as a Brobeck homestead. Council members praised the testimony but split over process; after discussion the council directed staff to send the request to the Parks Commission for formal consideration, asked staff to provide a signage cost estimate, and encouraged placement of a historical marker describing the homestead history.

The request and testimony Representatives of the Brobeck family and the University Place Historical Society described the parcel now called Homestead Park as part of a Brobeck family homestead purchased in 1931 by John and Anna Brobeck (the family and witnesses described a 40‑acre Brobeck farm that later became Town Center and the current Homestead Park). Karen Benveniste of the University Place Historical Society summarized the family’s agricultural history and asked the council to “consider this request” to add the family name to park signage. Several family members gave oral histories in public comment, describing multi‑generation ties to…