By Proposal to re-name Tract A to Wildwood Park heads to City Council in September’ email=’Proposal.to.re-name.Tract.A.to.Wildwood.Park.heads.to.City.Council.in.September@mi-reporter.com

You might say, “What’s in a name?” For years it’s been known simply as Tract A, but for residents who live near the 2.8-acre parcel of land designated by the city for use as water utility and a park, the moniker just didn’t suit the semi-wooded oasis that exists between Island Crest Way and 86th Avenue S.E. To the delight of folks who call themselves the “Friends of Tract A,” the city’s Parks & Recreation Department subcommittee last week agreed on a name for the park — Wildwood Park — and plan to take the selection to the City Council on Sept. 6 for approval.

“I’m happy with whatever name they choose,” said Pete Mayer, Parks and Recreation director. “This just goes to show the community’s support and passion for parks.” Tract A has been used as a park for at least the last 30 years, said Margaret Amory, a neighbor who has been involved with park restoration projects at the park for several years. She also enjoys watching Islanders use the park for recreational activities, such as baseball, football and soccer games, picnics and casual activities, such as walking, practicing golf swings or enjoying the seasonal pond filled with mallards. Amory met co-park naming advocate Bill Duvall about three years ago, while they were pulling ivy at another Island park. The two decided to get other residents interested in maintaining and preserving their neighborhood park, Tract A. But just keeping the park healthy and looking nice wasn’t their only concern.

“One of our wishes was to find a nicer sounding name for our park,” Amory said.

In addition to moving forward with the new name for the park, the Parks and Recreation Department plans to devote $5,000 to invasive plant removal and replanting at Tract A during the next few months. Amory said that should be a big help to get rid of ivy, blackberries and other invasive plants that are affecting the trees in the park. Mayer said he’s glad there are park supporters, such as Amory and Duvall, who care enough to work to protect it. He’s also glad the name for the park was so easily selected, although it has taken months, even years, for the park to get a new name.

This isn’t the first park to be renamed in the past several years, since Mayer assumed his duties on the Island. However, the other park, a ballfield on the Park on the Lid, was named for a former Parks and Recreation director Gary Feroglia.

Mayer said naming Tract A, or any other Island park, after him wasn’t an option.

“There shall be nothing named for me when I leave here,” Mayer joked. “But, I am glad the residents are happy with the name they’ve chosen — Wildwood Park.”