Longtime West Seattle Herald reporter Tim St. Clair, who died this past February, may be honored by a park in his name, but the effort has hit a snag.
Last Wednesday night's joint Delridge Neighborhood and Southwest District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Center discussed renaming the Morgan Junction Plaza Park to Tim St. Clair Park.
The site is currently a small paved triangle just north of the Beverage Place and was once planned as a major monorail station. It is now in its design phase and the park should be completed by next year.
The problem is that the Seattle Parks Department states a park can only be named after someone deceased for two or more years. Pete Spalding, Delridge council chair, and Sharonn Meeks and Steve Sindiong, Southwest Council co-chairs, presided and hoped for an exception of the rule in St. Clair's case. Sindiong is also president of Morgan Community Association.
"There is precedence in the city of Seattle to make exceptions," said Stan Lock, West Seattle neighborhood district coordinator. "Homer Harris Park was dedicated while he was still alive. But that was privately funded, and may explain why an exception was made."
Dr. Homer Harris was the first African-American college football team captain for University of Iowa in 1937, and a successful Seattle dermatologist credited with breaking through racial barriers. The park was funded by a single donor and dedicated in 2005, two years prior to his death.
Sindiong said he spoke to parks project manager Virginia Hassinger who suggested a petition be written and directed to parks superintendent Tim Gallagher. Those in attendance agreed that a petition should be written.
"Tim St. Clair was a very valuable member in our neighborhood and attended a lot of council meetings," recalled Spalding. "If you ever wanted to know anything about West Seattle, Tim was a good person to call. The park is an ideal location. Tim lived nearby. I think Tim Gallagher would be willing to consider making an exception if he sees widespread support."
Steve Shay can be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com.
