By Heather Graves
Correspondent
BELLEVUE – It’s official, Bellevue’s newest mini-park will be named Bedford Heights Park.
However, the new name didn’t come without some controversy.
The new mini-park in question will be located at 2900 Creekwood Circle within the new Bedford Heights subdivision.
In a split 3-2 vote at the village board meeting on Wednesday, June 26, trustees went against the recommendation of the parks commission and named the mini-park after the subdivision it will be located in.
Last month the village looked to the community to help the village name the new mini-park.
Stephanie Schlag, Parks, Recreation, and Forestry director said the village received 18 online entries and two mail entries.
The commission reviewed the suggestions submitted by residents, as well as those suggested from other sources, at its meeting June 10.
The commission unanimously voted to recommend the village board name the park Sorenson’s Creek Park.
In its recommendation, the commission said it believes Sorenson’s Creek Park was the best option because it highlights the numerous creeks and waterways throughout Bellevue, which makes the community unique.
Schlag said it also coincides with other village park names like Bower Creek Park, Willow Creek Park and the future planned Spring Creek Park.
The namesakes of the suggested park name is Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sorenson.
The resident who made this suggestion said in order to access the new mini-park, residents are required to cross Sorenson’s Creek via Santa Monica Drive.
“I like that the name has a little story behind it,” said Trustee Adam Gauthier.
Trustee Tom Katers had similar thoughts.
“I am fully in favor of going with the park commission recommendation,” Katers said. “I like that a lot of the other parks have similar names in the village.”
While specific park names are not mentioned in any plans, Schlag said sometimes working park names are used for purposed parks during the planning process.
For this reason, some board members believed the park should keep that name.
“I’d like to keep it Bedford Heights Park,” President Steve Soukup said. “I feel like it’s always been called that. I’ve been living in Bellevue for 29 years, I’ve never heard the name Sorenson’s Creek.”
Trustee Dave Kaster agreed, saying the name would make the park easy to find.
“It definitely tells (residents) where the park is,” said Kaster. “Seems logical to me.”
After more discussion, Katers made a motion to approve the recommendation of Sorenson’s Creek Park – but it was defeated in a 3-2 vote.
Another motion was made by Kaster to name the mini-park Bedford Heights Park.
That motion passed 3-2 with Katers and Gauthier voting no.
Construction on the park is scheduled to begin in late summer/early fall.
Mini-parks are designed to offer specialized facilities that serve a less than one-fourth mile radius in residential areas.
Mini parks are centrally located, easily accessible to walking and biking, sized to accommodate a playground, picnic areas and do not require off-street parking.