San Francisco's storied Golden Gate Park has hit the reset button on one of its iconic spots, Stow Lake, now dubbed Blue Heron Lake. In a close 4 to 3 vote, the city's Recreation and Park Commissioners gave the green light to the name change, a significant move aimed at shedding the antisemitic ties of its former namesake, William W. Stow. This decision comes after Supervisor Myrna Melgar championed a renaming campaign that included community outreach and polling on various name options.
The renaming effort, as reported by SF Recreation and Park, echoes a broader societal push to confront past injustices, with Stow's antisemitic history as a State Assembly Member and a proponent for taxing Jewish people to discourage their business endeavors being a particular point of concern. Melgar's initiative drew names inspired by civil rights icons, artists, early park personnel, and local fauna. Yet, the Blue Heron – a natural inhabitant of the lake's Strawberry Hill - resonated the most with San Franciscans.
It wasn't just the lake itself getting a new moniker. The commissioners didn't stop there as the roadway and boathouse carrying Stow's name also got a brand refresh, becoming Blue Heron Lake Drive and Blue Heron Lake Boathouse, respectively. These changes took effect instantaneously, setting a new precedent for the popular recreation spot known for its serene walks, picnic spots, and the boathouse's boat rentals. Built in 1893, the 12-acre doughnut-shaped lake wraps around Strawberry Hill, a wooded hill named after its once abundant wild strawberries.
Myrna Melgar, the Supervisor representing the lake's district, was quoted saying, "I am so grateful that the Recreation and Park Commission took this important step to strike Stow's hateful legacy from the lake and replace it with Blue Heron Lake," which she stated. "Antisemitism and hate have no place in our City nor in Golden Gate Park," Melgar added. She sees the Blue Heron, emblematic of patience and resilience, as a fitting symbol that aligns with the ethics of the San Francisco community.
