What to name Elgin park? Elgin hopes not 'Parky McPark'

Elgin residents, what do you think of having a say in naming a public park?

There's a certain democratic ring to that, but Elgin also could run into a "Boaty McBoatface" problem - that was the moniker picked by voters in an Internet poll to name a $287 million polar research ship in the United Kingdom, and it has British officials in a tizzy.

The city is in the process of naming a park at 3550 Tournament Drive in the Bowes Creek subdivision, on the city's far west side.

The city council had considered naming it "Tournament Drive Park" at the suggestion of the local homeowners association, but it changed its mind last week and decided to ask for input from the Elgin Area Historical Society. Elgin took ownership of the park after it was finished by the developer last year.

The park certainly could be named after a local historical figure or prominent farmer or landowner, said Elizabeth Marston, director of the Elgin History Museum. "Naming parks after notable figures, that's kind of in our heritage to do that," she said, pointing to Lords Park, Wing Park and Barclay Park, all named after families or individuals who donated those lands to the city.

The city also could ask input from the public, Marston said. "I'm not aware of that happening in Elgin before, but it happens elsewhere," she said.

One precedent in Elgin was the naming of a lion that arrived at Lords Park Zoo in 1964, Marston said. The winning submission, "Lord Spark," was chosen by a committee of judges, which would presumably avoid controversial picks.

Councilman John Prigge said the park could be named after local historical figures, or even notable golfers because of its proximity to Bowes Creek Golf Course. The Elgin Sports Hall of Fame lists nine golfers, among them one female golfer, Ellamae Williams-Roessler, who played in the 1930s and 1940s.

Prigge prompted his fellow council members to forego the name "Tournament Drive Park," saying too few people responded to a survey conducted by the homeowners association.

Parks and Recreation Director Randy Reopelle said he believes the community at large likely won't take the time to provide input. "We have a hard time just getting suggestions from people who are in the neighborhood."

Homeowners association President Marino Lamantia said any option is fine by him. However, he pointed out, fire and police personnel prefer parks with names of adjacent streets, because it makes them more recognizable during emergency calls.

City Manager Sean Stegall said he, too, wasn't aware of any precedents involving community input for naming of parks. The naming of public property shouldn't be random but have thematic or historical reasons, he said.

"I very much like parks being named after important community members from Elgin's past," he said. "Our history is what makes us unique. We should embrace it at all opportunities."

It's not known what the British government will do about naming its research ship, but it doesn't sound like Elgin will risk a "Parky McPark" anytime soon.