Several Tempe parks and streets are being renamed at the City Council’s direction after historical research determined that their namesakes were documented members of a local Ku Klux Klan chapter in the 1920s.

The Parks and Streets Renaming Ad Hoc Committee members have been appointed and will hold their first meeting Sept. 30. The group was appointed by and will work alongside City Manager Andrew Ching.

The committee’s meetings will be open to the public and available both online via WebEx (login details forthcoming) and in-person at the Don Cassano Room of the Tempe Transportation Center, 200 E. Fifth St. Please note, if needed, the December 7th meeting will be held at the Tempe History Museum Community Room, 809 E Southern Ave. The meeting schedule is:

• Friday, Sept. 30, from 1-3 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center)– This meeting will include an overview of the issue, the research, the committee’s duties and the public input process.
• Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 4-6 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center)– This meeting will include a first review of name suggestions from the community and a narrowing of the list.
• Meeting Cancelled   Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 4-6 p.m. (Don Cassano Room, Tempe Transportation Center)– This meeting will include finalizing the recommended names and discussion of recommendations for providing notice and compensation to affected residents and businesses.
• Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 4-6 p.m. (Community Room, Tempe History Museum)– This meeting time is being held in case it is needed