Park board drops proposed renaming after residents urge keeping Fairman Pool name

The Big Rapids Park Board removed a proposal to rename the city pool after public commenters said changing the name would erase local history tied to Ferris. The Chair accepted public comment and the item was dropped from the agenda after staff reported families did not support a name change.

Why it matters: Residents framed the proposal as a loss of community history. The board signaled a preference for memorials or plaques rather than renaming existing facilities while a broader naming policy is developed.

Staff recounted that the city manager had reached out to the family of the person who had been proposed as the new namesake; those family members told staff they did not want the facility name changed, a reason staff gave for removing the item from the agenda. A board member summarized concerns about erasing local ties, saying, “They're taking down everything that started Ferris with an name on it,” and asked that the pool’s historic name remain.

Board discussion emphasized principles in draft naming guidance: avoid changing facility names unless new, serious information about a namesake comes to light and favor smaller memorials when recognition is appropriate. Staff said a naming policy for park amenities exists in the board packet and that a more thorough policy remains under development; the exact draft language and approval timeline were not specified during the meeting.

What’s next: Staff offered to share the packet material and to continue work on a more detailed naming policy. No board vote was taken on renaming the pool.