The Kirkland Park board is seeking public comment and feedback in consideration of naming the Marina Park Pavilion The Allen Locke Pavilion at Marina Park.

The idea was presented to the board by former mayors Bill Woods and Bob Neir and former Fire Chief Bob Ely at the June 14 board meeting. The board is asking residents to comment on the idea before they decide if they will recommend the naming to City Council.

Residents can submit their comments by email to John Lloyd, deputy director of operations for the Parks and Community Services Department at jlloyd@kirklandwa.gov. There is also a one-question survey that is being distributed through social media on both the city’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Comments will be collected and the survey open until Nov. 30. Results will be presented to board at the Dec. 13 meeting.

Kirkland’s policy for naming public parks is outlined in Resolution R-4799 and includes a provision to name a park after an individual, living or deceased, who has given outstanding civic service to the Kirkland park system.

According to a press release, Allen Locke, Kirkland’s first city manager, took the job in 1965 and served for 20 years. Prior to his arrival, the site where Marina Park is today was a dumping ground for raw sewage and was not fit for swimming or boating. Locke looked beyond the industrial wasteland and saw potential, the release states. He crafted Kirkland’s first master plan for parks, setting the stage for the city to receive a $328,000 federal grant that funded the development of Kirkland’s downtown waterfront park in 1970. Locke expanded Kirkland’s park system from less than 30 acres in 1968 to more than 70 acres in 1980, including 12 acres of waterfront parks, according to the release.

According to Woods, Locke saw Lake Washington as Kirkland’s front door; he visualized parks, activity centers with play areas and a pavilion. Locke’s efforts as city manager made this a reality the release states.