Incredible Parks Want Incredible Names Project

The Incredible Parks Want Incredible Names Project was a campaign launched on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, aimed at renaming six Port-owned parks to foster community connection and promote safe recreation during the COVID-19 lockdown. Many of these parks, shaped by the history of industrialization along Seattle’s Duwamish River, had unwelcoming names such as “Terminal 107 Public Access Site,” which conveyed negative associations of fear and pollution.

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Through a rigorous, six-month process that engaged over 12,000 diverse participants, the project successfully renamed the parks in a way that better reflects their cultural, historical, and environmental significance, aligning with both the Port’s and the community’s goal of education and inclusivity. Four parks now carry names in Lushootseed, the Coast Salish Indigenous language, with accompanying translation and pronunciation guides. Two parks retain English names, reflecting the neighborhood's strong legacy of environmental advocacy: Duwamish River Peoples Park honors the Duwamish Valley’s two decades of efforts to transform a Superfund site into a public park and habitat, while Salmon Cove commemorates late activist John Beal’s leadership in the Duwamish River cleanup.

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Key Outcomes and Deliverables:

• Public Education Campaign: Designed and executed an academically rigorous, equity-driven campaign using stakeholder mapping, historical archives, environmental data, and Indigenous cultural knowledge, successfully engaging diverse community members.
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• ‍Community Involvement: Convened a community advisory committee that represented Tribal groups, youth, environmental advocates, and neighborhood leaders, ensuring the naming process was inclusive and reflective of diverse perspectives.
  

• Outreach Strategy: Developed and implemented multi-lingual, multimedia, and multi-generational outreach strategies to reach a wide range of park users and stakeholders, maximizing participation and engagement.
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• ‍Public Participation: Harnessed community storytelling to inspire public involvement, ensuring that the final names resonate with local residents and reflect their values.
  

• Transparent Process: Established a clear, equity-driven selection process that adhered to relevant agency regulations while promoting transparency and inclusivity.
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• ‍Communication and Promotion: Presented updates at public meetings and created communication materials, including flyers and web content, to effectively promote each stage of the selection process to both internal and external audiences.

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