Council will waive normal protocol and name new park after Rick Gomez

By Brooklynn Wong

Normally, per city ordinances, a park or other city facility cannot be named after a deceased person until 12 months have passed after their death.

But this is different. The Buena Park City Council proved that with its discussion and consensus at last week’s meeting. 

Rick Gomez, a beloved longtime Park and Recreation Commissioner and youth sports coach, passed away on January 2 after battling an illness. And to do just one small thing to honor him, the City Council wants to name a park at 8th and Western after him.

Gomez was a lifelong resident of Buena Park who began volunteering in 1991, and ultimately served his role as Commissioner for 28 years. He also was a popular, highly-sought-after coach for the P-Nut Baseball League as well as flag football.

At the March 26 City Council Meeting, Community Services Director Jim Box presented the Council with the typical protocol for naming city facilities after individuals. 

First of all, naming such a place after someone is to “be reserved for exceptional circumstances.” 

And the name shall: 

-have a historical, cultural or social significance for generations to come

-engender a strong and positive image

-commemorate people, places or events that are of enduring importance to the community 

And normally, 12 months must pass from the time the person passes away before a city park or facility is named after him or her. However, since these are City Council criteria, the City Council can vote to waive its own protocols.

And that’s exactly what they did, not wanting to wait until next January to proceed with the naming of the park, though, as Council Member Beth Swift pointed out, by the time the park would be completed and opened up, that time would probably already be near.

Those Council members who have been around long enough to have worked wth Gomez had kind things to say about him, and the three members present—Smith, Swift and Councilman Connor Traut—voted unanimously (Mayor Art Brown and Council Member Sunny Park were on a trip to Korea to visit Buena Park’s sister city there).

So now the project will proceed; there is currently a single-family residence on the site at 8th and Western that will be demolished. But the city will gather neighborhood input on all of this. There will be two workshops over the next two months, one at the site, and one in the Council Chambers during a Park and Recreation Committee Meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Fred Smith, who pushed for this initiative to be researched and presented to the Council, expressed gratitude for Rick Gomez and the whole Gomez family, who share Rick’s love for the community and have done much to serve Buena Park as well.