Renaming
Center Park to
Historic
Chinatown
Park
Monday, May 5, 2025
Jonathan Luong,
Senior Management
Analyst
Drew Halter, Director
of Parks and
Recreation
Introduction
• Purpose: Recognizing the contributions of Chinese
immigrants to Petaluma’s history and acknowledging their displacement due to anti-Chinese sentiment and policies.
Role of the City Council
•City Policy on Park Naming:
•Governed by Council Resolution No. 89-304 N.C.S.
• Reviews and approves naming recommendations from Recreation, Music & Parks Commission with final authority resting with the City Council.
•Public Engagement in Naming Process:
•Historically, park name changes involve public input and recommendations from RMPC
•Guidelines for Renaming Parks:
•Criteria for renaming include historical, cultural, or geographic significance, must be driven by community input, and should align with community values.
Background
• The City of Petaluma seeks
to recognize and honor the
unique history of Petaluma’s
historic downtown district,
and this presents a valuable
opportunity to do so.
Background
• The Historic Chinatown Park Ad Hoc
Committee is a grassroots group of AAPI
scholars, artists, and local residents.
• Partnering with the Petaluma Historical
Library & Museum and the City of
Petaluma, they initiated efforts to rename
Center Park to honor the historical
contributions of Chinese residents.
Timeline
1858: Petaluma is
incorporated.
1860s: The area that would
Center Park serves as a
makeshift parking for farmers
1866: John McNear
employs Chinese laborers
across various industries
1870s: Chinatown forms
along what is now
Petaluma Blvd
Timeline (continued)
1871: The area is named
Lower Main Street Plaza.
1877: Anti-Chinese clubs and
labor boycotts emerge.
1882: The Chinese
Exclusion Act bans
Chinese immigration.
1921: Lower Main
Street is renamed to
Center Park
Past & Present
Credit: Terry Park (research & photos)
Credit: Petaluma Museum & Historic Chinatown Ad Hoc Committee Alignment with
City Goals &
Priorities
• Recognizing Underrepresented
Histories:
• Community-driven effort to honor
overlooked individuals and groups
in Petaluma’s history.
• Cultural and Historical Preservation:
• Aligns with Petaluma’s goal of
fostering "spaces and places that
inspire.“
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
• Highlights Petaluma’s rich cultural,
economic, and industrial history.
Next Steps
• Staff recommend that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution to rename Center Park to Historic Chinatown Park, in accordance with City’s Public Parks and Facilities Naming Policy.
Q & A