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Council splits on renaming Columbia Park; item sent back to Parks & Recreation for more outreach
Summary
After two hours of testimony from veterans, descendants and residents, the council declined to adopt a renaming this week and voted to accept the committee report and return the matter to the Parks & Recreation Commission for further community engagement.
Torrance City Council on Dec. 3 considered a proposal to rename Columbia Park in honor of Technical Sergeant Ted T. (a Torrance-born Medal of Honor recipient) but stopped short of renaming the park, opting instead to send the matter back to the Parks & Recreation Commission for more public outreach.
Brianna Hart of the City Manager's Office recapped the application timeline: the renaming request was filed April 7, 2025; an ad hoc naming committee reviewed and sent it forward; and the Parks & Recreation Commission heard the item on Nov. 12, 2025, after which the commission voted to transmit its recommendation to council. Hart noted the city already recognizes the honoree at multiple memorials and that staff had not identified any binding restrictions on renaming.
More than a dozen speakers addressed the council during the public comment period. Veterans and family members emphasized the honoree's wartime heroism and the rarity of the Congressional Medal of Honor, urging the council to rename Columbia Park to "Ted T." Park (supporters included Corey Shiasaki and Kelvin Higa). Opponents and some commissioners said Columbia Park has historical ties to Columbia Broadcasting Company's 1968 land donation and warned that changing the name would erase that history; others urged the city to consider alternative sites or add a commemorative plaza instead.
Council debate focused on whether the city had provided adequate notice and time for public input. Councilmember Gerson argued the community needed more opportunity to weigh in and proposed sending the item back to Parks & Recreation; Councilman Metucci and others said the matter had been before the public multiple times and preferred a final vote.
A motion to accept and file and simultaneously rename the park failed (the clerk recorded three no votes). Councilman Gerson then successfully moved to accept and file the ad hoc committee minutes and to send the renaming matter back to the Parks & Recreation Commission for additional outreach; the clerk recorded the roll where Kaji, Lewis and Metucci voted no to that second motion.
What happens next: The Parks & Recreation Commission will reconvene on the item and is expected to provide a more detailed outreach plan and recommendation when it returns to council. Councilmembers asked staff to ensure broader outreach to North Torrance residents and descendants identified in the record.
Sources: Staff presentation by Brianna Hart; more than a dozen public comments; council debate and recorded votes from the Dec. 3 Torrance City Council meeting.
