City of Tempe, AZ
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Updates:
The City Council approved Resolution No. R2023.28. at the March 2, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting. The Resolution approved the parks and streets to be renamed, effective July 1, 2023.
If your address is affected by this change, click here for resident information.
Several Tempe parks and streets are being renamed at the City Council’s direction after historical research determined that their namesakes were documented members of a local Ku Klux Klan chapter in the 1920s.
Names honoring monumental Tempe figures was approved March 2 by the City Council as part of an effort to rename several streets and parks whose now-deceased namesakes had ties to the 1920s-era KKK in Tempe.
The names were suggested by community members and vetted by a diverse committee of Council-appointed volunteers. They met several times and selected options that would recognize the contributions of impactful community members who have passed. The new names are:
Parque de Soza – Replaces Hudson Park. Recognizes the multigenerational pioneer Soza family.
Rancho de Sotelo – To be a special, marked area east of Rural Road and south of University Drive, designating the 160-acre ranch of the Sotelo family, including Manuela Sotelo, a respected Latina pioneer and landowner.
East Obregon Street – Replaces East Laird Street. Recognizes pioneer farmer Pedro “Pete” Obregon, who was known as “Don Pedro” in the community for his work to take care of others.
Michelle Brooks-Totress Park – Replaces Redden Park. Recognizes community activist, philanthropist and volunteer Michelle Brooks-Totress.
West Romo Jones Street – Replaces West Laird Street. Recognizes husband-and-wife pioneers Adolfo Romo and Joaquina Jones, who fought and won in court for their children to be able to attend school with white children.
West Thomas Lane – Replaces Hudson Lane. Recognizes Maggie and Theodore Thomas, who were an African American pioneer family and business owners.
Mary and Moses Green Park – Replaces Harelson Park. Recognizes Mary and Moses Green, who were the first African American landowners in what is now Tempe.
Ragsdale-MLK Park – Replaces Sixth Street Park. This was an additional renaming proposed by the City Council on Feb. 9, in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lincoln Ragsdale, a prominent local Civil Rights activist, businessman and veteran.
The Parks and Streets Renaming Ad Hoc Committee members held their first meeting Sept. 30, 2022. The committee's work has now concluded.
Contact for questions about the renaming process, Council direction:
Tanya Chavez, 480-858-2215
Media contact:
Kris Baxter Ging, 480-858-2059
Street and Park Renaming Ad Hoc Committee
- Date: 12/07/2022 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Location: Tempe History Museum
809 E. Southern Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85282
Several Tempe parks and streets are being renamed at the City Council’s direction after historical research determined that their namesakes were documented members of a local Ku Klux Klan chapter in the 1920s.
The Parks and Streets Renaming Ad Hoc Committee members have been appointed and will hold their first meeting Sept. 30. The group was appointed by and will work alongside City Manager Andrew Ching.
The committee’s meetings will be open to the public and available both online via WebEx (login details forthcoming) and in-person at the Don Cassano Room of the Tempe Transportation Center, 200 E. Fifth St. Please note, if needed, the December 7th meeting will be held at the Tempe History Museum Community Room, 809 E Southern Ave. The meeting schedule is:
- Friday, Sept. 30, from 1-3 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center)– This meeting will include an overview of the issue, the research, the committee’s duties and the public input process.
- Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 4-6 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center)– This meeting will include a first review of name suggestions from the community and a narrowing of the list.
- Meeting Cancelled
Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 4-6 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center) - Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 4-6 p.m. (Community Room, Tempe History Museum)This meeting will include reviewing recommended names by the community and discussion of recommendations for providing notice and compensation to affected residents and businesses.
