City Commission Rejects Navarro Plaza Name for New Park

News Summary

The Grand Rapids City Commission has voted against naming a new park in Roosevelt Park ‘Navarro Plaza’ due to residents’ concerns over insufficient community engagement in the naming process. Though the name aimed to honor local Hispanic business pioneers, feedback highlighted dissatisfaction with the process used to gather input. A proposal has been made for a second round of voting, allowing for better community involvement. This decision exemplifies the growing importance of civic engagement in municipal decisions.

Grand Rapids – On May 20, 2025, the Grand Rapids City Commission decided against the proposed name “Navarro Plaza” for a new park in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, following expressed concerns from residents regarding the city’s outreach and engagement during the naming process. The park, part of the Plaza Roosevelt Redevelopment Project, carries a budget of $2.3 million.

The proposed name aimed to honor Miguel and Isabel Navarro, influential figures in the local Hispanic business community and founders of El Matador Tortilla Chip Company. The Navarros have also been recognized as inductees into the West Michigan Business Hall of Fame due to their significant contributions to the area’s economy.

Issues were raised by city residents related to the naming process, particularly regarding the lack of adequate community input and engagement. Commissioner AliciaMarie Belchak noted substantial opposition during discussions surrounding the proposed name, with many residents feeling they were not given sufficient opportunities to express their views.

As part of the naming process, the city had solicited 164 name suggestions from residents and established a stakeholder group consisting of ten neighbors from the Roosevelt Park area to oversee the selection. However, a poll conducted for determining the name choice received only 209 responses, with “Navarro Plaza” identified as the most favored option. Notably, “Unity Park” emerged as a close runner-up, prompting concerns regarding the validity of categorizing a clear frontrunner given the low participation in the survey.

Further public feedback highlighted dissatisfaction with the proposed name “Navarro Plaza,” with four residents voicing their opposition during a recent city meeting. Some attendees argued that “Unity Park” more accurately reflected the area’s increasing diversity and community spirit. This feedback led some commissioners, including Lisa Knight, to label the city’s prior outreach efforts as merely “performative” and advocate for additional community engagement before any naming decision is finalized.

Following the discussions, some commissioners put forward a proposal for a second round of voting between “Navarro Plaza” and “Unity Park,” aiming to ensure that the community had a clearer voice in the decision-making process. The resolution to reject the current name allows the city time to re-evaluate its engagement strategies, enhancing communication with local residents regarding the future of the park’s naming.

This decision comes at a time when local governments are increasingly being called upon to engage their communities effectively in civic matters, including the naming of public spaces. The City Commission has assumed responsibility for continuing outreach efforts to garner more comprehensive feedback from residents before moving forward with an official name for the park.

The ongoing dialogue illustrates the importance of community involvement in municipal decisions and sets a precedent for future projects within Grand Rapids, reinforcing the idea that city officials must consider resident input seriously in order to foster a sense of community ownership and pride.

As the city prepares to navigate the next steps, residents remain hopeful that their thoughts will be taken into account as discussions around the new park’s name continue.

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Additional Resources

• MLive: Grand Rapids Rejects Proposed New Park Name Due to Resident Opposition
• Wikipedia: Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Wood TV: Proposed Navarro Park Name Heads to Grand Rapids City Commission
• Google Search: Grand Rapids park name
• WWMT: Grand Rapids Asks Residents to Help Name New City Park
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Community
• Grand Rapids Magazine: Name a New Park
• Google News: Grand Rapids park name