Title
Establishing names for four new parks in the Highland Bridge development.
Body
WHEREAS, the Highland Bridge development (Ford site) includes the establishment and development of four new public parks; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation led a community process to design and name this new parkland; and
WHEREAS, these four park parcels Park A, Park B, Park C, and Park D were established by a plat in 2020 with the intention of formal naming in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Park A is located at 2290 Ford Parkway and serves as the prominent entrance point into the Highland Bridge development and also to Saint Paul from Minneapolis; and
WHEREAS, the name Gateway serves as a geographic marker of the entrance to the city of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Gateway also is symbolic of the place we are in time and moving from the past to the present; and
WHEREAS, the land referred to as Park B, 875 Mount Curve, is in the location where the Ford Assembly Plant once stood; and
WHEREAS, auto industry Union laborers played a prominent role in this period of history and the United Auto Workers Local 879 organized to improve working conditions at Ford Motor Company; and
WHEREAS, the word Assembly also indicates the concept of gathering, and unity; and
WHEREAS, the land referred to as Park C, 2230 Montreal Avenue, Park C has the most natural condition of the parks and directly connects the stormwater in the development to Hidden Falls and a creek that leads to the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, it is a stated priority of the City to recognize that Saint Paul is on Dakota land and a priority to include indigenous communities during the planning aspects of the Highland Bridge development, including the creation and naming of parks; and
WHEREAS, Uŋči Makȟa (pronounced oon-CHEE Ma-KAH), Dakota for Mother Earth, was endorsed by Dakota representatives engaged in the naming process for this park space; and
WHEREAS, the land referred to as Park D, 2120 Montreal, was largely undeveloped due to steep slopes and wetlands; and
WHEREAS, there is a community desire and recommendation to honor the coyote pack that lives in the area; and
WHEREAS, Míča (pronounced MEE-cha) is the abbreviated way to say Coyote in Dakota and it was similarly endorsed by Dakota representatives; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Commission (“Commission”) considers naming under Commission Policy #7, Naming Parks and Recreation Sites, 2012 Update, which provides criteria for naming of parks; and
WHEREAS, by Commission Resolution #21-06, April 8, 2021, the Commission endorsed the proposed changes in names and found the proposal complies with the spirit of the Commission policy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes renaming the platted Park A to Gateway Park; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council authorizes the platted Park B to Assembly Union Park in recognition of Auto Industry Workers and Local 879; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council authorizes renaming the platted Park C to Uŋči Makȟa Park; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council authorizes renaming the platted Park D to Míča Park, and, be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Council thanks all in the community that contributed to this naming process by advancing their ideas and suggestions and specifically acknowledges the contributions of the Dakota representatives and Saint Paul Youth Commission for lending their perspective.