Home » City Guide » , , ,

Golden Gate Park’s Iconic “Stow Lake” Getting A New Name

SF released list for 14 potential new names for gorgeous GG Park lake that was originally named after an avowed 19th century anti-semite
By - posted 12/3/2023 No Comment

Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the news that a “short list” of new names for Golden Gate Park’s Stow Lake has been released.

The decision comes after years of scrutiny surrounding the lake’s namesake, William Stow – a 19th-century California Assemblymember, who expressed his antisemitism openly throughout his political career. He once advocated for the removal of Jewish people from California and even proposed a “Jew tax” to discourage their residency.

In response to Stow’s beliefs, a group of San Francisco supervisors introduced a resolution calling for the lake’s name change. The resolution gained support, and officials are now considering 14 new name submissions from the public.

We love the idea of “Harriet Beecher Stowe Lake” so that we can continue using the same name, but it honors someone much more worthy.

The final decision on the new name will be made by the Recreation and Park Commission in early 2024.

Proposed Short-List of “Stow Lake” Names

  • Blue Heron Lake
  • Mary Ellen Pleasant Lake
  • Turtle Lake
  • Ramaytush Ohlone Lake
  • Heron Lake
  • Lake Hall
  • Dr. Ho Feng Shan Lake – change.org petition
  • Joan Davenny Lake
  • Mikveh Lake
  • Patrick Quigley Lake
  • Strawberry Lake
  • Wong Kim Ark Lake
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe Lake
  • Peter Peacock Lake

Or propose a name by emailing Emma.Heiken@sfgov.org

Read the full article at sfgate.com