10B
Date: March 3, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Ted Stevens, Community Services Director
By: Krystle Covarrubias, Senior Business Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Services – Provide Direction on Proposed Official Project Name of "World War II Japanese American Monument" at Columbia Park.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director that City Council provide direction on the proposed official name of “World War II Japanese American Monument” for the project that will be constructed at Columbia Park.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
On July 16, 2021, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi secured a $5,000,000 grant allocation through Senate Bill No. 170 for the development of a World War II Japanese American incarceration memorial project (“Project”) at Columbia Park. The Project is intended to educate the public on the history and impact of the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans without due process during World War II, while recognizing the local and regional historical significance of this period.
In accordance with grant requirements, staff and the design team at Chee Salette have worked closely with the Project’s Advisory Committee appointed by the Speaker of the State Assembly, the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, and the Torrance City Council. The conceptual design has been developed collaboratively to create a meaningful space for remembrance, reflection, and education.
In parallel with project development, the City has engaged in discussions and exploratory efforts regarding potential national recognition of the site, including consideration of a future national monument designation. Establishing a clear and formal name at the local level is an important foundational step in supporting long-term historical recognition, strengthening educational outreach, positioning future grant opportunities, and advancing any potential state or federal designation efforts.
1 City Council
March 3, 2026
As the Project advances toward construction, the Advisory Committee identified the importance of formally adopting an official name to ensure consistency across public communications, interpretive materials, fundraising initiatives, and historical documentation. In evaluating potential names, the Advisory Committee reviewed similarly themed monuments across the United States to understand national naming conventions and ensure the Project’s title would be clear, historically grounded, and consistent with comparable memorials.
Following deliberation and stakeholder input, the Advisory Committee voted unanimously at its February 11, 2026, special meeting to recommend the name “World War II Japanese American Monument.” The Committee also considered the name “Walls of Remembrance.” However, after discussion, members determined that “World War II Japanese American Monument” more clearly reflects the overall intent and scope of the Project, while allowing “Walls of Remembrance” to potentially be incorporated as a defined component within the broader monument framework. The proposed name is intended to clearly reflect the historical focus of the memorial, respectfully acknowledge the Japanese American community impacted by wartime incarceration, and provide a concise and dignified designation appropriate for both local and national reference.
Accordingly, staff recommends that City Council provide direction on the proposed official name, “World War II Japanese American Monument,” for the Project at Columbia Park so that staff and Chee Salette may proceed with branding, signage, interpretive elements, and related materials in alignment with the approved conceptual design and project timeline. The Project is scheduled to be released for construction bid in March 2026, with a planned groundbreaking in late summer and anticipated completion by December 2027.
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