Planning commission recommends renaming Weddock Park to Weddock Rooker Park while preserving historic name

The City of Saginaw Planning Commission on the record recommended that City Council consider renaming Weddock Park to preserve both the park’s historical name and to honor Kevin Mark Rooker.

Jacob Way, president of the Kevin Mark Rooker Historical Preservation Society, and Lee Amo, the society’s secretary, told commissioners they organized the petition after Rooker’s death and sought to memorialize his contributions to the Cathedral District and the park. "I am president of the Kevin Mark Rooker Historical Preservation Society," Jacob Way said, describing Rooker’s decades of volunteer work on signage and park maintenance.

Several commissioners raised concern that removing the park’s historic name would erase the city’s past recognition of a former mayor. Commissioner (speaker 4) argued that Weddock’s (the former mayor’s) historical significance should not be discarded and suggested an alternate recognition such as a plaque or additive naming. Lee Amo told the commission the society did not intend to remove the existing Weddock sign and proposed adding Kevin Rooker’s name beneath or alongside the current signage: "We don't have any intention of taking down the sign," Amo said.

After discussion, a motion to amend the petition to a combined name (recorded in the minutes as 'Weddock Rooker Park') and to include a condition preserving historical recognition passed. The commission recorded the motion as carrying and instructed staff to forward the recommendation to City Council with the condition that both the original commemoration for Weddock and an appropriate acknowledgment for Kevin Rooker be preserved in signage or a plaque.

The recommendation is advisory; the final decision rests with City Council. Commissioners and petitioners agreed that the society’s materials — including historical documentation and a proposed plaque — will accompany the council packet.