Residents say donor naming risks erasing Palm Park history as Waterloo Greenway seeks naming authority

At a May 19 briefing, the Parks and Recreation Board heard sharp public criticism over plans to permit donor and community naming of features in the Waterloo Greenway Confluence and Palm Park.

Speakers from East Austin, including Phil Thomas and Bertha Rendon Ortiz, told the board that donor name features risk erasing Mexican American and Chicano history tied to Palm Park and associated community landmarks. "Naming rights belong to the community, not redevelopers, nonprofits, or private interests," Phil Thomas said in public comment, urging the board to reject a sale of naming rights for historically significant public spaces.

Waterloo Greenway Conservancy staff told the board that the organization’s joint development agreement (JDA) with the city includes naming authority for newly built features, and that private philanthropy has been a central fundraising strategy: the Conservancy is pursuing $100 million and reported it has raised nearly $80 million so far. Staff described about 13 candidate features within phase two that could be named for donors or community members and said a separate community naming program will allow some features to be named through community‑driven processes.

Board members sought clarification on whether the JDA bypasses municipal naming rules and how the Conservancy’s donor naming process will mesh with city code. In the briefing, the Conservancy responded that Article 12 of the JDA outlines naming standards and that final submissions will be reviewed by city staff; the presenter said the Conservancy will continue community outreach and planned another round of public engagement.

Residents said they want explicit, transparent protections for historic community names and guaranteed space for community‑driven dedications. Bertha Rendon Ortiz, president of East Towne Lake Citizens Neighborhood Association, demanded audits and asked why mitigation funds she says were negotiated for other parts of the city are not directed to her neighborhood’s long‑deferred improvements.

The item was a staff briefing and no board action was taken. Staff noted June 6 as the opening date for the next phase of the Confluence and estimated Palm Park design at 60% with construction bid targeted for mid‑2027 and park opening targeted for 2029. Board members asked staff to provide clearer backup materials on naming rules and the JDA to help the board and public better understand the process.