From serious contenders like Pyramid Park to tongue-in-cheek submissions like Wasted Opportunity Park, a recent contest to rename the exchange lands generated some rather creative responses from the public.
Among some of the more unique submissions was Grassy McGrassy Place and Greeny McGreenSpace Park, a nod to a similar contest in the U.K. that went awry when the public overwhelmingly voted to name a new polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface. The ship has since been renamed the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The creative submissions garnered some humorous moments during a committee-of-the-whole meeting Aug. 8.
“As for Wasted Opportunity Park, nothing is actually ever wasted. The land is there so I thought maybe it could be Unrealized Potential Park,” said Ireland.
On a more serious note, Ireland pointed out that Pyramid Park, which received five submissions, is already in use and is the official name for Firemen’s Park, located on Bonhomme Street.
Christine Nadon, the municipality’s legislative services manager, said if council chooses to rename the exchange lands as Pyramid Park it would be relatively easy to resolve since all of the documents, except for the physical sign, already refer to it as Firemen’s Park.
Ireland said he was also wary of naming a park after an individual explaining that before Jasper became a specialized municipality the practice was to avoid naming something after a person.
Nadon said administration also wanted to steer away from naming the exchange lands after an individual, however there was no formal policy restricting naming a park after a person.
“Very rarely do we get to rename things so a policy was deemed to be perhaps a bit cumbersome to address this situation,” said Nadon.
In the absence of a policy administration recommended council name the green space after a local geographical or natural feature because it would have the best potential for community buy-in and use.
In this specific case, administration suggested names such as Pyramid, Cavell, Kerkeslin and Tekarra are all mountains that are visible from the park. On top of this the exchange lands are located on Pyramid Lake Road, making a logical connection to the name Pyramid.
Coun. Dwain Wacko said he preferred to keep the name the way it is.
“I feel the historical context in which these parks or features were created is missing,” said Wacko.
The name “exchange lands” was the moniker giving to the parcel of land in 2011 when the the municipality and the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) entered into a memorandum of understanding to exchange two parcels of land so the school division could build the new joint school facility.
The memorandum of understanding included swapping the town’s former Bowling Green, located on the corner of Bonhomme Street and Elm Avenue, for the parcel of land where the old school once stood with the condition the land would eventually become open recreational space and GYPSD would pay for the project.
In June of 2011, the community voted in favour of the land swap, setting in motion the construction of the new joint school facility and the demolition of the old building.
The new school officially opened its doors in September 2014 and the old building was demolished a few months later.
The exchange lands were originally expected to be open for use this year, however administration has decided to keep it closed until next spring.
With 25 submissions to choose from council ultimately directed administration to pick the top three names before returning to council for a final vote on Aug. 15.
Paul Clarke
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