An ordinance proposes to change the park's name from Pioneer Park back to Alaskaland, a name it held from around 1971 to 2001.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - An ordinance before the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly proposes to change the name of Pioneer Park , a popular local and tourist destination along Airport Way, back to Alaskaland , the name it held between around 1971 and 2001.
Assemblymember Scott Crass, who co-sponsored the ordinance, said he has been interested in seeing the name change back for a long time. “I’ve continued to call it Alaskaland for a number of years, but I always thought that was just people of my vintage that had grown up in the area with it being called Alaskaland,” he explained. Expecting that there would be community interest in seeing the name change, and noting that the current Pioneer Park Master Plan identified the name “Pioneer Park” as alienating to members of the region’s Alaska Native Community, Crass and fellow assemblymember Liz Reeves-Ramos brought the ordinance forward for first reading at the assembly’s Thursday meeting, where it was referred to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Announcements about the potential renaming have received largely positive feedback online, while Thursday’s meeting saw community members testify both for and against the name change. In his public testimony against the ordinance, Randy Frank said the current name accurately indicates what people will find at the park, including attractions at the park which celebrate the early history of Fairbanks. “Many visitors, as well as local residents and their families, come to Pioneer Park to see these attractions and support the businesses located in the park,” Frank explained. “Winter tourism is becoming a real asset to our community as folks come north to see the Northern Lights. Several of these groups now include Pioneer Park on their tour.” He argued that the ordinance’s $50,000 cost associated with the change will not be the only cost borne by the community. “The businesses and nonprofits who operate in Pioneer Park will also have to have costs. Their brochures and advertisements and various tourist publications will all have to be redone. Web pages will all have to be changed. Their personal stationery may need to be reprinted,” Frank said.“There are a number of people that have spoken to me on this issue that they’re not willing to use the park with the current name. They’re members in our community that it recalls a very painful time in their history as Alaskans, and so I think it’s absolutely worth it to make it welcoming and inclusive for everyone in our community,” Crass said. Community member Karen Malone expressed enthusiasm for the name Alaskaland and said the area has always carried that name for her. “I’ve been here 42 years, and I still call it Alaskaland. I don’t know why they changed it,” she added. “It’s Alaskaland to all of my children, all of my family.” Malone argued that Alaskaland, as a name, better encompasses the community than Pioneer Park, which she said focuses on the beginning. The Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to discuss the ordinance at its March 16 meeting, after which the ordinance will once again be sent to the assembly.Missing girl with autism found safe in North Carolina, officials sayFairbanks suspends snow removal amid extreme cold‘The holidays can be hard’: How the remote community of Mekoryuk keeps traditions alive
Pioneer Park Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Frank Crass Reeves-Ramos Malone Name Change
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FNSB assembly considers changing Pioneer Park name back to AlaskalandAn ordinance proposes to change the park's name from Pioneer Park back to Alaskaland, a name it held from around 1971 to 2001.
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