RETAIN THE NAME LAKE CALHOUN

The following letter to the MPRB Commissioners was presented during Open Time at the July 1, 2015 Park Board meeting.

RETAIN THE NAME LAKE CALHOUN

July 1, 2015

Commissioners:

Recently there has been an attempt by a number of individuals to convince the Park Board to change the name of Lake Calhoun.  I want to add another perspective on this effort.

It is important to understand that the lakes in the Minneapolis Park system are not only lakes; they are also assets–valuable assets.  And they are branded assets.

Think Coke products or Dairy Queen products. The names and the assets are linked together.  And so Lake Calhoun–the asset and its name are linked together.

Lake Calhoun is a brand and there is immeasurable value in its name.  Tourists from all over the world visit our lakes and recognize their names.

As custodians of all of the assets in our esteemed park system, it is your fiduciary responsibility as commissioners to protect and preserve these assets; and that means protecting and preserving our lakes and the names attached to them.

I urge you to continue to protect and preserve Lake Calhoun–both the lake AND its well-known name.

Thank you.

Arlene Fried
Co-founder of Park Watch
www.mplsparkwatch.org