Sacramento, California – Sacramento is asking residents to help decide the future name of one of downtown’s oldest and most familiar public spaces.
The City has opened a community-led renaming process for Cesar Chavez Park at 910 I Street, inviting residents, businesses, cultural groups and downtown stakeholders to share their views before any final decision is made. The effort began with the launch of an online survey on June 12, 2026, and the survey will remain open through July 24.
The process is not just about choosing a new name. City officials say it is also about public trust, civic memory and making sure Sacramento’s shared spaces reflect the community they serve today. Mayor McCarty has appointed a City Council subcommittee to help guide the effort. The group includes Vice Mayor Talamantes, Mayor Pro Tem Guerra and Councilmember Pluckebaum.
Community input will be collected through the survey, outreach events, pop-up engagement and other public participation opportunities. That feedback will help shape naming themes and recommendations, which will later be reviewed by City staff, the Mayor-appointed Council Subcommittee, the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, and finally the Sacramento City Council.
Cesar Chavez Park has carried several names across its long history. Before becoming known as Cesar Chavez Plaza in the 1990s, the site was known as Plaza Park, Public Square and City Plaza. Its roots stretch back to 1848–1849, when it was established as part of Sacramento’s original city plan.
For generations, the park has been more than a patch of green in the middle of downtown. It has been a civic stage. Markets, performances, demonstrations, public events, celebrations and everyday gatherings have all passed through the 2.5-acre space. Today, the park includes a café, fountain, picnic areas, a seasonal farmer’s market and a summer concert series.
City officials say the renaming discussion comes in response to community interest in reevaluating the current name. The City has said the process will follow its facility naming policy and will consider public values, civic identity, cultural relevance, historical significance and long-term appropriateness.
After the survey closes in July, City staff are expected to review and analyze community input during August and September. Recommendations are scheduled to go before the Parks Commission in October and November, before the City Council considers and adopts a final park name. The timeline may change as the process moves forward.
The City has also made clear that the current project focuses only on the name of the park. Possible park improvements, public art, programming or activation efforts would be handled separately. No decisions have been made about the statue at the site. Once a new park name is finalized, the City says it will begin working with the artist to determine the proper next steps.
Residents who want a voice in the discussion are encouraged to complete the online survey and take part in upcoming outreach opportunities. Project updates and announcements will continue to be posted on the City’s renaming process webpage as Sacramento works through a decision tied closely to history, identity and the future of one of its central public places.