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Parks commission weighs renaming Valencia Park after Tommy Lasorda; commissioners question fit
Summary
Parks staff proposed renaming Valencia Park to Tommy Lasorda Park as part of a revitalization effort; commissioners and speakers agreed the family supports the move but debated whether Valencia — which lacks dedicated baseball fields — is the most appropriate site and urged stronger interpretive ties to Lasorda’s baseball legacy.
Park staff presented a proposal to rename Valencia Park “Tommy Lasorda Park” as part of planned improvements funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. Staff said the Lasorda family supports the concept and suggested honoring the manager with an interpretive mural and programming tied to the renovation of the park’s restroom/snack building.
Several commissioners questioned whether Valencia Park — largely a neighborhood park adjacent to school property with no standalone baseball fields maintained by the city — is the best location for a dedication to a baseball figure. Commissioner McKendree and Chair Lindstrom noted that Orange Thorpe Elementary and its fields have stronger historical ties to Little League and local baseball activities associated with Lasorda’s community presence. “When you think of Tommy, you think of baseball,” one commissioner said, and suggested the city consider a site with direct baseball access or add clear interpretive elements linking Lasorda to the space.
Parks staff said Orange Thorpe had been considered, but that the city is still negotiating potential uses with the school district and an emerging proposal for that site could affect feasibility. Staff emphasized the broader goal: to revitalize Valencia Park, address recent safety and maintenance issues, and use a name and planned improvements to encourage positive programming and community activation. The Lasorda family reportedly expressed preference for a community-focused commemoration rather than a strictly baseball-oriented memorial.
Commissioners asked staff to clarify site relationships (park vs. school district property), to ensure any renaming is paired with tangible improvements and community programming, and to pursue stronger ties to baseball history (mural, plaques, or field dedications) if the council moves forward. No final vote renaming the park was recorded at the Feb. 4 meeting; commission discussion focused on appropriate location and programming.
