What the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst thought was a “no-brainer” turned into a sensitive matter with a segment of the community, but not so sensitive to the community services committee of Gravenhurst town council.

Last October, representatives of the Rotary Club asked the committee to consider renaming Gull Lake Park to acknowledge Rotary’s long-standing contributions to the park. To address the request, the committee approved a policy identifying criteria for the naming and renaming of public parkland.

A staff recommendation from community services manager Debbie Broderick to install a plaque recognizing the Rotary Club’s contributions to Gull Lake Park instead of renaming the park was amended by committee members to rename the public space Gull Lake Rotary Park.

Broderick’s report on the topic indicated seven letters of concern were received from the public, most of which suggested a plaque be installed instead of renaming the park. Letter writers feel there is historical importance in keeping the park’s original name, she said.

“I won’t support the resolution as it stands,” said committee member Bryan Pilger. “I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. We’re recognizing Rotary by adding the word Rotary, but we’re not changing the name altogether. It will still be Gull Lake Park.”

Committee member Terry Pilger, who also serves as a Rotarian, agreed the committee recently adopted a policy for renaming public parkland and Rotary’s application met the criteria.

“(Rotary) has proved its contributions over many decades,” he said.

Committee member Bob Colhoun said Kinsmen Park was named to honour the former Kinsmen Club and more recently town council approved the name change of a portion of Pinedale Road to Veteran’s Way.

“Progress in Gravenhurst will mean changes that not all folks are happy about,” Colhoun said. “That’s progress and we have to move on.”

Committee member Mark Clairmont, another Rotarian, said the town has been remiss in not recognizing the contributions of Rotary and this is an opportunity to do that and take a step toward recognizing other groups in the community.

Before the committee addressed Rotary’s request to rename the park, committee members heard a deputation from Rotary president Brian Ferguson, who said not renaming the park because it has always been known as Gull Lake Park is not a good reason not to rename it.

“Rotary has had a long history of contributions to Gull Lake Park which has helped the park to what it is today,” he said. “The club gets nothing from this except to honour the contributions of Rotarians past and present as the single biggest contributor to the park.”

He explained Rotary sponsored and operated hydroplane races in the 1940s and built the first floating barge used for Music on the Barge. The club also initiated the swimming program and built the picnic shelter used by many.

“This is really a no-brainer,” he said. “. . . To just say no for seven or eight letters is not right as far as I’m concerned. How you do it is your decision.”

Committee member Sandy Cairns said it’s all about public perception.

“It’s nothing against Rotary,” she said. “I think it may confuse people if we call it Rotary Park.”

Ferguson agreed perception is a big thing and suggested a sign naming Gull Lake Park could be erected with Rotary’s logo on it instead of renaming the park to include the word Rotary.

The committee voted to rename the park Gull Lake Rotary Park and to work with the town’s signage committee and Rotary to establish a new sign for the park.