Resolution No. 2025-XXX N.C.S. Page 1
Resolution No. 2025-XXX N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA RENAMING CENTER PARK TO HISTORIC CHINATOWN PARK IN ACCORDING WITH THE CITY’S FACILITIES
NAMING POLICY AND PROCEDURE, AND IN RECOGNITION OF GEOGRAPHIC
SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma, through Council Resolution No. 89-304 N.C.S, adopted formal policies and criteria to aid the City Council in exercising its final authority in naming all public parks and facilities within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the City’s adopted park naming policy and procedure provides the Council, community, and staff with guidelines to evaluate recommendations to name or rename parks and/or facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Public Facilities Naming Policy allows public facilities, when appropriate, to be named in honor of a person, and further provides for the recognition of individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant, direct, and positive contributions to the community; and
WHEREAS, Center Park, located at 7 Petaluma Boulevard North, was originally part of Lower Main Street Plaza—a central hub of commerce and community gathering prior to Petaluma’s incorporation in 1858—and served as the heart of Petaluma’s historic Chinatown, where Chinese immigrants operated businesses, built community institutions, and contributed to the local economy through labor, trade, and entrepreneurship; and
WHEREAS, despite facing forced displacement and systemic exclusion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Petaluma’s Chinese American community made enduring contributions to the city’s agriculture, brickmaking, river dredging, and railroads, which were critical to the early development of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, although the physical remnants of Chinatown are no longer visible, its cultural and historical legacy persists in the stories, experiences, and contributions of early Chinese American residents, whose memory deserves meaningful recognition within the fabric of Petaluma’s civic identity; and WHEREAS, in 2025, the Historic Chinatown Ad Hoc Committee—composed of Asian American and Pacific Islander scholars, genealogists, artists, healers, storytellers, and community members—led a grassroots initiative in partnership with the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum and with the support of the City of Petaluma to honor and elevate the stories of Petaluma’s Chinese community through the renaming of Center Park to Historic Chinatown Park; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2025, the Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission voted unanimously (7–0) in support of staff’s recommendation to rename Center Park to Historic Chinatown Park; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows:
1. Declares the above recitals to be true and correct and are incorporated herein as findings of this Resolution.
Resolution No. 2025-XXX N.C.S. Page 2
2. Finds that this resolution does not constitute a “project” pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
3. In accordance with the City of Petaluma’s Facilities Naming Policy and Procedure, the City Council hereby adopts this Resolution to formally rename Center Park, located at 7 Petaluma Boulevard North, to Historic Chinatown Park.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE:
I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the DD day of Month YYYY, by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
______________________________________________
City Clerk
____________________________________________
Mayor
Resolution No. 2025-XXX N.C.S. Page 3