Roseville commission tables four park-name recommendations, OKs three-month sponsorship search for Royal Park art center

On Oct. 6 the City of Roseville Parks and Recreation Commission postponed final recommendations on staff-suggested names for four new neighborhood parks and unanimously approved a limited search for a sponsor to underwrite the reopening name for the Children’s Art Center at Royal Park.

Tara Gee, park planning and development manager for the City of Roseville, presented staff and subcommittee recommendations for four parks scheduled to enter construction in 2026. The subcommittee recommended Interstellar Park (FD 50, 1.7 acres), Monument Park (JM 51, 2.6 acres), Hawks Landing (JM 52, 1.5 acres) and Ashbrook Park (CO 61, 6.0 acres). Gee said the park-naming suggestion period opened in July and closed July 31; the subcommittee reviewed 25 submissions and also considered names submitted the prior year.

The commission heard several public speakers who asked that the city prioritize naming parks after local volunteers and long-term community contributors rather than street- or subdivision-based names. Ed Smith, who said he chaired a committee that submitted an application to name a park for Bernie Milmo, described Mr. Milmo’s long-running holiday food-basket program: “This annual project...has been in place for over 30 years,” Smith said, detailing volunteer recruitment, vendor negotiations and donated venues that sustain the effort. Other residents urged commissioners to consider Michael Ziegler and other nominees who they said had strong community support.

Commissioners expressed reservations about forwarding the subcommittee’s single recommendation for each park. Several commissioners said naming parks after people helps preserve local history and provides educational context for residents. Others said geographic names can make parks easier to locate. Commissioner Jeff Short (Commissioner Short) said he would vote to reject the four staff recommendations and asked staff to return with alternatives.

On the Children’s Art Center in Royal Park—closed for roughly a decade while renovations proceed—staff proposed renaming the facility “the Art Center at Royal Park” to broaden its mission and rental uses. The commission unanimously approved a motion directing staff to explore a naming-rights sponsorship for the facility and to return with results within three months; commissioners specified that if no sponsor is secured within that period, the facility’s name would default to the subcommittee recommendation. Staff described pending renovations that include new interior paint, new flooring, ADA code improvements and temporary closing of the stage for storage.

After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to continue the four neighborhood park-name recommendations to the November meeting to allow commissioners and staff additional time to review the pool of submissions and consider alternative recommendations to forward to the city council. The commission also agreed to forward any additional names it compiles to the council; city council holds final approval authority under the city’s Park Naming Policy.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Aug. 6 meeting): motion and second recorded; passed (unanimous). - Motion to explore naming-rights sponsorship for the Children’s Art Center, with a three-month search and fallback to the recommended name if no sponsor is found: passed unanimously. - Motion to continue/take the park-name item for FD 50, JM 51, JM 52 and CO 61 to the next meeting for further consideration: passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Park names shape local memory and visibility. Residents and some commissioners urged the commission to weigh volunteer and historical recognition more strongly; staff emphasized naming consistency and geographic clarity. The commission delayed final recommendations to give both perspectives more time for review before the city council receives a formal set of names.