Columbus Park Renaming โฃDebate โฃDraws Community Input in Binghamton
Binghamton, โฃNY – A proposalโ to rename Columbus Park inโ Binghamtonโ sparkedโ discussion adn divided opinions at a recentโค community meeting, as residents weighed the park’s historical importance against calls for a name reflecting a more inclusive past. The park, with a complex history of name changes, is currentlyโค the subject ofโข a city survey seeking public feedback.
Columbus Park has undergone several transformations as โits inception. Originally established as Sherman Place Park, it became Carrollโ Street Playground inโฃ 1928, dedicated โto the children ofโฃ Binghamton’s 7th and 8th wards, and added new playground equipment and a wave pool. Following resident โrelocation during a 1955 โคexpansion,โ the park reopened โin 1959 as Columbus Park.
The current debate centers on whether the park’s name โขshould be changed to better represent the diverse community it โคserves. At the meeting, residents voiced passionate arguments on both sides of the issue.
Brenda Brown, a Binghamton-area resident who moved to the area for IBM employment, emphasized the importance of preserving the park’sโข connection to local history. “I treasure this community, I treasureโข my relationship with Trinity โAME Zion as if I wouldn’t have had it, where would my kids be โtoday? They all have that โคmemory of Trinity and Columbus Park,”โ sheโข said. โค”I want to doโข everything that I can to keep that memory active and alive.”
Former Binghamton Mayor Richard Bucci argued against renamingโ the park, highlighting the significance of Christopher Columbus โto Italian Americans.”As the son โขand grandson of โขItalian immigrants,I learned firsthand of their trials and tribulation,”โฃ Bucciโ said. “During these struggles, Christopher Columbus became a symbol of pride and achievement for โขItalian Americans.”
other residents suggested choice solutions. Craig McFarland proposed the possibility of a dual naming system, acknowledging the potential to honor multiple community figures. “There’s a lot of folks in this โขcommunity that couldโข actually be โคblessed with the name,” he stated.
The city is currently collectingโ public input through an online survey available at https://binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_29OvwFiWc6dyv0a?Q_CHL=qr. Residents โareโฃ encouraged to participate in the process.
