Staff to look into updating park naming policy to include Indigenous, stakeholder input
April 14, 2024 at 5:06 AM
As a Sharon Drive park got its name, Fort Erie’s mayor asked staff to consider ways to include the Indigenous community in future naming efforts.
Credit: Town of Fort Erie | FacebookThe new park at 1447 Sharon Drive, which was finished last summer and recently transferred ownership to the Town of Fort Erie, will be called High Pointe Park. And while Wayne Redekop said he believes that’s an appropriate name, he did relay a question received about whether an Indigenous name for the park was considered.
“Do you know whether there was any outreach with respect to any Indigenous names, and if not for this park, whether that will be something considered in the future?” the mayor asked town staff as the report was on the floor.
“We did not consult (the Indigenous community) because that is not our policy currently,” replied Anamika Dilwaria, the town’s director of planning and development services.
However, the planner said staff can look into updating the policy to include potential stakeholders such as the Indigenous community for future naming projects.
Currently, staff consider several principles in naming a town park. Many of the principles revolve around uniqueness of the name, portraying a positive image for the town, and that the name should “be understandable and justifiable to town residents,” the report said.
There are three categories of names the town typically considers: geographic, historic and cultural, and prominent individuals or organizations.
Under those criteria, the staff report said the park could be renamed to honour Indigenous people or using Indigenous terminology.
“However, in the case of the park located at 1447 Sharon Drive, it is staff’s opinion that the proposed name ‘High Pointe Park’, referencing the geographic context of the Spears High Pointe neighbourhood, would be a more fitting designation for this particular location,” the report said.
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About The Author
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is a longtime Niagara community journalist who has covered a variety of beats, including business, agriculture, the wine industry and politics. When not writing, there's a good chance he can be found at a baseball diamond or curling rink.
Naming Parks for any race is Racist!! Just like, the rainbow crosswalk, supports one gender over another! We have to stop this kind of, supporting, dividing one group over, another!