January 11, 2023
Page 5
Black Female Journalist and
Civil Rights Advocate Honored
YOU’VE GOT THIS.
Pool signage will be updated for summer 2023 season (Photo courtesy of Portland Parks &
Recreation)
Wilson Outdoor
Pool to be
renamed Ida B.
Wells-Barnett
Outdoor Pool
Portland Parks & Recreation
(PP&R) and Parks Commissioner
Carmen Rubio are pleased to an-
nounce that the name of Wilson
Outdoor Pool has been officially
changed to Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Outdoor Pool, honoring a Black
female journalist and civil rights
advocate. This is a historic first
for PP&R — honoring a person
of color with a facility name on
the west side of Portland. Updated
temporary signage reflecting the
new name will be in place at the
pool soon, with permanent mate-
rials and signage in place ahead of
the summer 2023 season.
For years, community mem-
bers have asked that both Wood-
row Wilson High School and
Wilson Outdoor Pool undergo
name changes. Former President
Wilson was known to be racist
and held segregationist views.
In January 2021, Portland Pub-
lic Schools announced Ida B.
Wells-Barnett High School as the
new name for Woodrow Wilson
High School after a community
naming process. The pool, locat-
ed at 1151 SW Vermont Street,
is managed by PP&R separately
from the school, so PP&R com-
mitted to conducting its own
name change process.
Under the leadership of Di-
rector Adena Long, PP&R began
a process for renaming Wilson
Outdoor Pool earlier this year
through. For guidance, the bureau
looked to its Naming of Parks,
Natural Areas, Recreational Fa-
cilities, and Regional Trails policy
(Naming Policy).
While seeking public input,
PP&R staff were able to speak
with more than 500 communi-
ty members at in-person events
across the city. About 275 submit-
ted ideas during the submission
period of July 5 - August 22, 2022.
“It is a joy to have such a pop-
ular recreational facility now
bear the name of a noted civil
rights activist, Ida B. Wells-Bar-
nett,” said Commissioner Rubio.
“This is the first Portland Parks
& Recreation facility or park on
the west side to honor a woman
of color, a historic and significant
step. This has been a gratifying
start to a process of renaming
some sites and facilities to better
reflect our community’s values
and inclusiveness.”
Portland Parks Director Ade-
na Long appointed a committee
of community stakeholders to
review naming suggestions from
the community following the
process outlined in the Naming
Policy. The committee made the
recommendation to rename the
site Ida B. Wells-Barnett Outdoor
Pool. Director Long and Com-
missioner Rubio accepted the
committee’s recommendation.
“This is a key moment to re-
introduce a popular community
gathering place in a way that
welcomes all Portlanders,” said
Director Long. “The new name
is a nod to the importance of Ida
B. Wells-Barnett's work and leg-
acy, and it honors a trail blazer
who, frankly, deserves greater
recognition. Commissioner Ru-
bio and I thank the community
members who worked thorough-
ly and passionately on this re-
naming process.”
Community input and discus-
sions resulted in support of Ida B.
Wells-Barnett because of her sig-
nificant legacy and service as an
American journalist, civil rights
activist, educator, and researcher.
She was known for her leadership
in speaking out against lynching
and for fighting for women’s
suffrage. She spoke and wrote
to President Wilson in protest of
segregation and discriminatory
hiring practices. The committee
recognized the significant en-
gagement process undertaken by
the students and staff of Ida B.
Wells-Barnett High School in se-
lecting their name.
It was very important to com-
mittee members that Ida B.
Wells-Barnett be honored similar-
ly to other PP&R facilities where
the pool, park, and adjacent school
all share the same name (such as
Grant Pool, Park, and High School
and the former Wilson High
School and Pool). As a woman of
color, the committee reasoned, Ms.
Wells-Barnett should be given the
same honor as white male leaders.
Get job ready at
Portland Community College.
You’ve also got options.
From short-term certificates that will strengthen
your skills, to an associate degree that can
advance your career, PCC has a program that
meets your needs.
START TODAY
pcc.edu