The city of Hyattsville is asking residents to submit their ideas to rename Magruder Park.
As the city looks to remove language specifying that the park would be for white residents only from the official deed, it has decided to officially rename it in 2021 “to reflect its current use as a welcome gathering place for all.”
There are four ways residents can submit their ideas:
–Fill out an online suggestion form
-Mail in a form included in the October edition of the Hyattsville Reporter, the official city newsletter
-Pick up a form from the suggestion box by the Magruder Park Recreation Center at 3911 Hamilton St.
-Call 301-985-5039 and leave a message
The city will be accepting submissions until Nov. 15. They will be reviewed by the city’s Race and Equity Task Force and Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee and presented to the City Council early next year.
How about you leave it Magruder Park, it’s been that way for how long now? No bodies bitching about it but you all just want to be politically correct. Screw that, how about you change both Hamilton and Jefferson streets too while your at it. You used to be proud residents of Hyattsville who glorified our town and how it evolved. Now you want to change history and its not good to give in to those who find it offensive. Yes I know quite a bit about Hyattsville, you see I did grow up there and at the foot of the bridge is where my dad’s jewelry store sat. The air conditioner going through the wall there, I helped put that in. Its now Hyattsville Vacume but my dad and grandfather where in that location for years.
Thank you
Daniel A. Lisenbee Sr
Renaming the park will not “change history”. Nor will it change anyone’s fond memories of the park. Just like the history and memories of your dad’s jewelry store didn’t suddenly vanish or change when it became a vacuum store. Part of history, and glorifying how the city evolves, is changing names of civic properties.
When looking at whether or not to change a name of civic property we must look at the why it was so named in the first place. In this case, it was named for the person who gave the land to the city. Which is common and fair enough. However, given the stipulation he insisted upon, I think it is safe to say that another name would be more appropriate.
Phil