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Parks board tables renaming decision after survey favors 'Aguila,' petition for Jesse Owens heads to council
Summary
Staff told the board a public survey of 1,843 responses favored 'Aguila Park and Aguila Community Center' with 565 votes; write-ins included 23 votes for Jesse Owens. City council will consider a citizens petition July 1; the board agreed to table its action until after the council response.
The Parks Board postponed a final decision about renaming the regional park and community center at 35th Avenue and Baseline after staff reported survey results and a citizens petition will go to city council on July 1.
"The survey ran from May 15th to June 24th, 2026 and received a total of 1,843 responses. The top name by number of responses from the total respondent pool was Aguila Park and Aguila Community Center with 565 votes," Assistant Director Brandy Barrett told the board.
Brent Barrett (assistant director) noted that 74% of survey responses came from zip codes within the park's five-mile service radius and that Aguila and Lavine were the top two names both overall and within the service area. Staff recommended the board adopt "Aguila Park and Aguila Community Center."
Several public commenters urged the board to name the park for Jesse Owens, citing his athletic accomplishments and local ties. Jerry Van Gas criticized the survey's timing and process, telling the board: "You disregarded everything except your lame survey. And you know once I heard you Tony say this doesn't have to be named after an individual. It can be named after other things. Well, that's exactly what you did." Another commenter argued Jesse Owens "lived here for the last 10 years of his life" and that the board could honor him.
Board members asked why Jesse Owens had not been one of the six options on the staff survey. Staff said the director asked the team to propose six names reflective of the area and that write-ins were allowed; Jesse Owens received 23 write-in votes. Legal counsel said the city council is required to act on a valid citizens petition within 15 days, and that historically naming authority has rested with the parks board, so the board could table its action pending the council's response.
After discussion, the board agreed to table the renaming decision until after the city council's July 1 meeting and then revisit the matter. Several board members asked that any individual name proposed later be vetted for potential controversies or negative issues before final approval.
