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Pocatello staff, neighborhood group propose renaming Bonneville Community Park for Purse family
Summary
Parks staff and the Bonneville Neighborhood Association asked the Pocatello City Council at a work session to support renaming Bonneville Community Park to Purse Park to honor John and Idaho Purse and to reduce public confusion between two similarly named parks; staff will bring a resolution to the council for a vote next week.
Parks and Recreation staff and members of the Bonneville Neighborhood Association presented a proposal at a City of Pocatello work session to rename Bonneville Community Park (at 7th and East Fremont) to Purse Park in honor of John and Idaho Purse.
The proposal, presented by a Parks and Recreation staff member, said Idaho Purse coauthored the Triangle book and that the Purse family has been active locally, including in the NAACP, foster parenting, and HIV/AIDS awareness. The staff member said the neighborhood group collected signatures in support and that, to the staff member’s knowledge, “I don't think we've had any opposition.”
Council members supported the idea during the work session and emphasized two practical reasons: to honor the Purse family and to reduce confusion between two City parks that both use the Bonneville name. The Parks and Recreation staff member told council the community often confuses Bonneville Community Park with the smaller Bonneville Park on South 19th, creating repeated calls about the wrong location.
Council President Lyric and Council Member Mansfield both called the proposal “a great idea” and urged staff to bring a resolution to the next regular council meeting. The Parks and Recreation staff member said signage and a plaque explaining the name would be included in the department’s planned rebranding and sign updates and that the parks budget could absorb at least the first sign.
No formal vote took place at the work session. Staff said the next step would be to bring a resolution to a council meeting for formal consideration and vote. The Parks and Recreation staff member said they would bring the resolution to the council meeting “next week.”
City staff and neighborhood representatives also said they plan a plaque that will explain the Purse family’s community work and to include context about the Triangle neighborhood where the park sits. The neighborhood association reported they had gathered signatures and had engaged the senior center and other neighborhood contacts in support.
The council did not take formal action at the work session; staff will return with a resolution on the formal agenda for council consideration.
