What’s in a name?
That’s a question city council is trying to provide some clarity and consistency to – at least when it comes to its parks and facilities.
At its Jan. 9 meeting, council approved a draft policy that provides guidelines for naming playgrounds, city parks and infrastructure, including facilities built voluntarily by non-profit groups on city property.
Ross Milnthorp, the city’s general manager of parks, recreation and culture, said the city’s Community Services, Recreation and Culture Commission suggested such a policy in early 2016 following construction of the turf field at Robron Park.
“As city infrastructure is developed, the commission anticipates that the city will receive requests for naming these assets from the community,” Milnthorp wrote in a report to council last March. “In addition, requests from the community (for) naming rights for existing or future assets, may be a source of revenue for the city.”
As it turns out, Milnthorp was correct.
In November, as the city’s other commission, the Advisory Planning and Environment Commission, was vetting the draft parks and facilities naming policy, the city received a request from Cermaq to have its name on the turf field.
Council ultimately approved that request and in exchange, Cermaq will provide $100,000 over three years to the city which will be applied to the city’s share of the costs to build a field house at Robron Park.
Aside from acknowledging donors, the naming policy also intends to affirm “a sense of place and identity” and celebrate “the social, historical, cultural and natural environment of our unique city.”
The policy also purports to help the public easily identify a park or facility and recognize contributions from individuals or groups from the community, as well as their achievements.
Highlights of the naming policy
- Names are encouraged which reflect the service, contribution or achievement of any individual or group to the specific facility, including naming the facility after people or groups who are important or prominent in their field including art, sport, commerce, politics and community service.
- Local names of importance and significance that resonate with Campbell River residents are encouraged.
- If a facility is to be named after an individual, group or commercial entity, consent of that individual, group or commercial entity must first be obtained. If the individual is deceased, consent must be obtained from his or her executor, administrator, heirs or family.
- No confusing, corrupt, discriminating or derogatory names are permitted.
