Council directs staff to advance two park naming requests, denies Juneteenth tournament renaming

Interim Parks & Recreation Director Lisonbee Wing presented three naming applications routed by the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board: a request from Councilmember Byrd to rename the Denton Civic Center as "Quakertown Civic Center," an application from Dr. Rudy Rodriguez to name a currently‑unnamed day‑labor site the "Popo Gonzales Day Labor Site," and an application from David Martin to rename the Juneteenth softball tournament the "John Royster Juneteenth softball tournament." Wing said the board unanimously recommended approving the Civic Center and the day‑labor site names and unanimously recommended denying the event renaming because the existing naming policy covers permanent facilities and not programs or events.

Staff summarized outreach (a Discuss Denton page, targeted emails to neighborhood groups, Nextdoor, social posts, a press release and a December public meeting) and reported engagement tallies: Civic Center — 34 in favor, 13 opposed; Day Labor Site — 34 in favor, 11 opposed; Juneteenth tournament — 19 in favor, 19 opposed. Staff recommended resolutions: approve the Civic Center and day‑labor naming requests and deny the Juneteenth tournament naming request; council members generally expressed support for staff recommendations and clarified that a resolution will be brought back for final action on a future agenda.

Council also discussed whether the Parks Board should remain the ad hoc committee that reviews naming requests; a majority favored continuing that practice. Several council members voiced the importance of honoring Quakertown history while also making sure the community is heard in a public, non‑coercive way.