Prattville council work session signals public preference for “The Lyric,” debates separate name for bank building

The Prattville City Council discussed naming options for the outdoor venue at 124 West Main Street during a publicly noticed work session, with strong public input favoring “The Lyric” for the pavilion and questions remaining about what to call the adjoining bank building.

Paula, the city clerk, read a prepared statement from Councilor Chambers summarizing the public input: “Out of the 386 eligible total submissions, the Lyric was the most frequently suggested name, accounting for approximately 34% of the responses,” the statement said, adding that roughly 60% of submissions included the word Lyric in some form.

Councilors acknowledged a high volume of resident participation and debated whether the name-selection process covered only the outdoor pavilion or should also include the bank building next door. Several councilors said they had no objection to calling the pavilion The Lyric while reserving a different, more fitting name for the bank building that will house offices and incubator space.

The clerk also reported a staff tally of submissions: “The Lyric had 133 suggestions,” Paula said; she reported 80 submissions using a variation such as “The Lyric at Esters,” 19 other Lyric variants, 47 proposals that referenced Wilson Pickett, and 108 additional distinct name suggestions. Councilors noted a discrepancy between an early remark that 442 emails were received and Chambers’ statement citing 386 eligible submissions; councilors discussed counts and format variations and said staff would verify tallies before a formal naming resolution.

Several councilors proposed a compromise that would split honors across the site: a community-facing venue known as The Lyric, a performance stage named for Wilson Pickett, and the bank building identified by a family or community-oriented name (several councilors suggested the Strickland family as one possibility). Councilors said they appreciated the volume of public input but emphasized that the work session was for discussion only and not a vote.

Councilors also discussed timing to dedicate a Wilson Pickett stage before the upcoming Picket Fest; some members supported a dedication at the event, while others asked for additional historical verification and community outreach before finalizing that step.

No formal motion or vote was taken during the work session. The chair closed the meeting at 5:53 p.m.; councilors said the naming question will be returned to the agenda as a resolution or item for a future meeting after staff confirm counts and draft proposed language for any naming ordinance or resolution.