Residents and descendants urge delay and more research before renaming Second Lake Park

Several residents and descendants urged San Bernardino’s Arts and Historical Preservation Commission on Monday to delay any move to rename Second Lake Park and to give staff time to vet proposals under the city’s formal naming policy.

The public comment period drew multiple speakers from families and historical groups. Nicholas Catalgo, who identified himself as president of a local historical and pioneer society and a former commissioner, said the group “unanimously feel that it should not be renamed” and urged the commission to do more research before changing long-standing place names. Christian Tobar, a long-time resident, said San Bernardino has “lost so much of its history” and asked the commission not to “proceed with this” renaming effort lightly.

David Sekum, who identified himself as the great-grandson of William C. Sekum, described his ancestor’s civic service and said the family was honored by the city when Inland Lake and Park later became Sekum Park. Sekum cited academic correspondence and an interview with a former mayor about the case and told commissioners that critics’ characterizations of his ancestor were “a simplistic take” on a complex history.

City Attorney Albert Maldonado told the commission the renaming process is governed by a formal policy and resolution that staff will apply when an agenda item is prepared. Maldonado read the policy’s steps: applications are submitted to parks staff, reviewed for completeness, referred to the Arts and Historical Preservation Commission, then to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission, and finally recommended to the mayor and city council. He emphasized the policy’s criteria for new or replacement names, which include connections to local history, geography, cultural heritage and significant service to the city.

Commissioners did not take action on the renaming at the meeting. Staff told the commission that the renaming item is not yet fully vetted and is likely to return as an agenda item in June after review by the city clerk, city manager and city attorney’s office.

The commission’s next procedural step will be to review any completed naming application during a publicly noticed meeting, and then forward a recommendation to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission and ultimately the city council for final action.