DATE: November 18, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Parks and Recreation Department
TITLE: SELECTION OF A NAME FOR THE FORMER CESAR CHAVEZ PARK AT CROWN HEIGHTS
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends the City Council rename the former Cesar Chavez park at Crown Heights (as Crown Heights Park or La Corona Park) based on community input in accordance with the City Council action taken on April 8, 2026.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On May 21, 2003, the City Council adopted City Council Policy 100-55: “Policies and Procedures for Naming and Dedicating City Facilities.” City Council Policy 100-55 provides a timeline, procedures, and priority categories for the naming of facilities. The timeline states that in April of each year, the City Council must first designate facilities for which they will consider applications for renaming.
On April 8, 2026, City Council waived the investigation and hearing requirements in Council Policy 100-55 and designated the former Cesar Chavez Park (the “Park”) in the Crown Heights community for renaming. City Council waived specified requirements in Council Policy 100-55 to expedite the naming and renaming process. Staff from the Parks and Recreation Department was directed to designate the Park for renaming and to direct staff to have community meetings with the process being a collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department and Housing and Neighborhood Services Department. City Council directed staff to present the top two or three options selected by the Crown Heights community directly to City Council without action from the Parks and Recreation Commission.
On September 2, 2026, City Council took formal action to amend Council Policy 100-55 for the naming of parks pursuant to the following guidelines: geographic location; other considerations such as prominent form or topography, floral, and relevant cultural or historical features; or themes, activities, cultural, or historical contribut...
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