Feedback survey circulating after city changes name of south Louisville park

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Metro councilman is circulating a survey requesting feedback after the city renamed a park in south Louisville.

South Central Park was recently renamed to Taylor Berry Park.

It's a change that has not been welcomed by many in the area. Just days after the sign with the new name was put up earlier this month, it was vandalized. Someone wrote "South Central Park" in red spray paint over the new name. Some of that spray paint still remains on the sign.

The park is in Councilman Phillip Baker's district.

According to a Facebook post that includes a link to the survey requesting feedback about the name change, Baker said, "We helped facilitate the change from South Central to Taylor Berry Park as part of a District-wide initiative aimed at improving neighborhood identity."

When asked why the survey was created after the change happened, Baker told WDRB News in a statement: "After hearing from neighbors in Taylor Berry, I decided to post a short survey so everyone can have a voice in the park’s name. My hope is that this can help bring Taylor Berry neighbors together for the future betterment of the neighborhood."

According to the city's neighborhood map, the park falls in the boundaries of the Taylor Berry neighborhood.

However, several park-goers shared with WDRB that the disdain over the new name is because the area's identity has been built around the South Central name, not Taylor Berry.

Some are also frustrated because their input is being requested after the fact.

"It sounds silly, I know it does, but it was real upsetting," said Gary Roney, who has lived in the area his whole life. "Some people upset, some people were mad, it’s just a bad combination, especially when no one talks to you. Everyone wants to be asked.”

Roney admits nostalgia is also a factor.

"I'm sure they (people) have a place they like to -- they grew up at for a long time and it might still be the same name, maybe it's not, but if it's the same name I'm pretty sure they wouldn't like it to be changed," he said.