Title
Renaming Webster Park to Barack and Michelle Obama Park.
Body
WHEREAS, Webster Park, located in the City of Saint Paul, has long functioned alongside the school adjacent to it; and
WHEREAS, Webster Magnet School opened in 1976 as a foreign language and enrichment magnet program, and it is likely that Webster Park received its name in conjunction with the naming of the school; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Saint Paul Public Schools renamed Webster Magnet School to Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary School, in recognition of the historic leadership and service of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama; and
WHEREAS, despite the renaming of the school in 2009, Webster Park has continued to retain its original name, leaving a discrepancy between the school and the park which share both physical proximity and a historic connection; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama made history as the first African American elected President of the United States, and together with First Lady Michelle Obama, has inspired generations through a commitment to education, civic engagement, equity, and service; and
WHEREAS, renaming Webster Park to Barack and Michelle Obama Park would affirm Saint Paul’s values of inclusion, representation, and respect for leaders who embody the ideals of democracy, community service, and opportunity for all; and
WHEREAS, the alignment of the school and park names would strengthen the shared identity of this community resource, honor the contributions of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and better reflect the legacy of the school-park partnership that has served families and students for nearly 50 years; and
WHEREAS, on October 9, 2025, the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Commission passed Resolution 25-09 requesting that the Saint Paul City Council and Mayor approve the renaming of Webster Park to Barack and Michelle Obama Park; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Pa...
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