Renaming of Park on Branch Street to Pailin Park

By Soben Ung On Mar 20, 2019

By Soben Pin

Lowell, Massachusetts — Lowell city council Rodney Elliott filed a motion on February 5, 2019 requesting Parks & Recreation Subcommittee meet and discuss renaming the park on Branch Street to Palin Park. The council unanimously referred the motion to the subcommittee.

KP USA File Photo: Cambodian traditional game "Tugs of War" was being played at the Clemente Park during a Cambodian New Year celebration in April 2016. — KP USA File Photo: Cambodian traditional game “Tugs of War” was being played at the Clemente Park during a Cambodian New Year celebration in April 2016.

The subcommittee met and decided to support the renaming of the park at the city council meet-ing on Tuesday March 19. The council referred the motion to the Board of Parks and the final vote would take place sometimes before April. With the annual Cambodian New Year celebra-tion taking place at the park this year on April 20th, Lowell’s Cambodian community may have an opportunity to celebrate the new year with the new pride having a park named after a popular cultural hub just across from the street – the Pailin Plaza which was established in the 1990s.

KP USA Photo: Pailin Plaza on Middlesex Street across from the Clemente Park

The Roberto Clemente Park used to be a baseball field where the Latino community gathered in the 1970s before the influx of the Cambodian refugees arrived. Prior to that, the park was named Washington Park and the name was changed to Roberto Clemente Park in the 1973 to honor a Puerto Rican native professional baseball player who died in a plane crash during a humanitarian trip to Latin America.

“Time has changed in many parts of Lowell. In the last 30 years, Clemente Park is mainly a gathering place for the Cambodian community for sports, cultural celebrations, family and kids’ playground. It would give the community a sense of pride by having its name change to Pailin Park” said Councilor Elliott.

The motion was originally filed last year by Councilor Elliot along with Councilor Nuon but faced some heat by fellow council member Rita Mercier who spoke against it that it was also a pride for Latino community to have it named after its iconic baseball player. However, Councilor Elliott argued the Latino community is no longer using the park. Furthermore, the Little League baseball team of the Latino community has its own dedicated field as Roberto Clemente field behind the Bartlett Middle School two years ago which he is proud to have worked with the city to have it done. “Everyone is happy. That’s the way I see it” said Councilor Elliott.

This week the discussion on renaming the park to Pailin Park has resurfaced. With the support of the community, the motion was passed and referred to Board of Parks 9-0, it is likely the park will be renamed. The next Board of Parks meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday March 27th at 6:00pm, Lowell City Hall. Public is welcome to attend.