New name approved for Lincoln Park in South-Central El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Tuesday, the El Paso City Council unanimously voted to change a Central El Paso park's name to "Lincoln Park-El Paso's Chicano Park."

The park is located at 4001 Duranzo Avenue in South-Central El Paso. It passes under the Spaghetti Bowl and has notable murals painted onto the overpass beams.

District 2 Representative Josh Acevedo presented the change based on a recommendation from the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The name change applied on behalf of the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee. It canvased the neighborhood and gathered signatures in support of putting the item on the council's agenda.

According to the application, the name change aims to honor the neighborhood's 150-year history. The application said the new name refers to what some El Pasoans call the park.

Documents said Hector Gonzales, a member of the park's conservation committee, would be responsible for costs associated with the name change.

During Tuesday's meeting, Gonzales said renaming the park to include "Chicano" in it would enhance a partnership with the Chuco Park Group in San Diego, California.

"We lose out on tourism. We lose out on people visiting," Gonzales said during the meeting. "By adding this name, we get thrown into the Google search. There's San Diego. There's El Paso. Now you got a choice."

Additionally, the new name reflects El Paso's Chicano history. Community members often gather at the park for lowrider shows, according to the park's conservation committee. Many of its murals also have Chicano references.