17 - Changing the Name of MLK, Jr. Park to Joan Mathis ParkItem No. 17
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
SUBJECT: CHANGING THE NAME OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARK
TO JOAN MATHIS PARK
DATE: June 28, 2021
BACKGROUND:
At the City Council meeting of May 24, 2021, Marcus Yates spoke during Citizens' forum, and
asked that the City Council consider honoring Joan Mathis by changing the name of Johnson Street
Park to Joan Mathis Park. Mr. Yates explained that Joan Mathis was a long time teacher at Paris
Jr. College and had contributed much over the years to the citizens and community of Paris.
Council Member Stone requested an agenda item for City Council to consider this request.
City staff subsequently located Resolution 89-015 approved February 13, 1989, whereby the City
Council changed the name of Johnson Park to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (see attached
Resolution 89-015). This information was relatively unknown by many in the community and
those present at the May 24th City Council meeting.
At the City Council meeting of June 14, 2021, City Council discussed this item including the
recently discovered Resolution 89-015 whereby Johnson Park had been renamed to MLK Jr. Park,
and subsequently tabled it to allow Council Member Stone to meet with her constituents.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
Mayor Pro Tem Reginald Hughes, Council Member Renae Stone, City Manager Grayson Path,
and Public Works Director Michael Smith took part in a community meeting on Sunday, June 20,
2021 at the St. Paul Baptist Church, to discuss this topic further. Approximately 30-40 individuals
attended, many of whom voiced their thoughts and ideas regarding a wide range of opportunities
to honor both Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Joan Mathis. Mayor Pro Tem Hughes and Council
Member Stone were going to further discuss this with their constituents following that meeting in
preparation for tonight's discussion.
Some of the ideas included:
1. Keep MLK Jr. Park named as is.
2. Rename MLK Jr. Park to Joan Mathis Park.
3. Rename Johnson Street to Joan Mathis Street.
4. Rename 17"' Street NE (or a portion thereof) to Joan Mathis Street.
5. Dedicate a pavilion or some other permanent structure to either Joan Mathis or MLK Jr. at
this park.
6. Identifying another park in town to rename to Joan Mathis Park.
For tonight's purpose, the agenda item is strictly to discuss renaming of MLK Jr. Park to Joan
Mathis Park. Because of that, we cannot discuss renaming of streets because that was not on the
agenda and therefore those impacted were not given reasonable notice. Therefore, the City
Council, if they so wish to discuss other options, should either table this item (which will mean we
have to add a second item dedicated to other options as we cannot morph this agenda item), take
action (yes/no), or take no action and the item dies and the City Council moves on to the next
agenda item.
BUDGET:
Based on what was discussed, there might be some future expense, but nothing as of tonight.
RECOMMENDATION:
If the City Council wishes to rename the park tonight, a resolution has been prepared.
If the City Council wishes to entertain other options, then either table this to a future meeting where
an additional item will be added along with this item to discuss other options — or — take no action
but with the understanding that a future item will be added that exams other options in order to
continue this conversation.