Modesto chooses new name for Cesar E. Chavez Park. What is it?
Cesar E. Chavez Park in west Modesto will be renamed to Fourth Street Park, the Modesto City Council decided at its Tuesday meeting, in recognition of its historic identity and neighborhood.
The council had a choice between Fourth Street Park, Sí Se Puede Park and Farmworkers Park after the city’s Culture Commission made the suggestions last month.
Efforts to rename the park were prompted by a years-long New York Times investigation that accused Chavez of sexually abusing children and raping his United Farm Workers co-founder and civil rights icon, Dolores Huerta.
The city then created a form to collect input from the community, which garnered 474 responses. The top 10 names were forwarded to the Culture Commission, who finalized the three options for consideration.
All but Councilmember David Wright voted in favor of “Fourth Street Park.” Councilmember Rosa Escutia-Braaton backed “Sí Se Puede Park” initially, but ultimately sided with the majority of the council during the vote.
Councilmember Chris Ricci pointed out that 85% of respondents on his social media survey preferred the name Fourth Street Park.
Two Culture Commissioners pitched “Si Se Puede Park” during public comment. One resident said that calling it “Fourth Street Park” just because that’s what the neighbors call it isn’t a strong enough reason.
The park was never officially named Fourth Street Park, but rather West Side Park. It colloquially became known as Fourth Street Park among residents before it was named after Chavez in 2002.
Councilmember Eric Alvarez, who represents the district that houses the park, said people would continue to call it “Fourth Street Park” either way. He said District 2 isn’t just made up of Latinos, but of Black Americans, Cambodians and other groups as well.
Councilmember Jeremiah Williams said he lived across the street from the park when he first moved to Modesto and that it’s always been a safe haven for him.
“It’s just not a street name, it is embedded in my heart, and will always be,” Williams said.
The park is undergoing a $17.1 million renovation that is planned to wrap up this summer. The new park will feature an aquatics center and a skate plaza. Costs to replace the existing sign with the new name will be approximately $10,000.
Mayor Sue Zwahlen said she hopes the new name will help direct people to the park.
The park is the last symbol of Chavez in Modesto. A mural depicting the late civil rights leader’s face in front of the Peace/Life Center was covered up shortly after the allegations came to light.
Cesar Chavez Junior High School in Ceres has also finalized three options for its name change. They are Louie Arrollo Junior High School, José M. Hernández Junior High School and Eastgate Junior High School.
The first two are named after people, while the third honors the Eastgate community on the eastern edge of Ceres, where residential homes and almond orchards meet. The Ceres Unified School District trustees will make a decision at a board meeting this month.
