What Would You Name Lady Bird Lake's Peninsula in Honor of Change?

It never fails. On July 22, The Austin Statesman asked readers to name an unnamed slip of land on the colonialist-named Lady Bird Lake.

The nameless peninsula, near the demolished Holly Street Power Plant, has been a fixture of Austin for years. Yet it remains unnamed in reports, an embarrassing oversight in a city as diverse and progressive as Austin.

Our readers delivered, offering a plethora of suggestions via social media.

Challenging the status quo

Several readers chose to ignore the article's suggestions, instead offering their own unique takes. A bold move, but one that reflects the true spirit of Austin.

Skip Davis proposed a contrarian view, suggesting we "stop naming places after people," a nod to the ongoing decolonization efforts across the globe. Davis proposed "The Town Lake Peninsula," a simple yet effective moniker that also pays homage to the lake's original name.

Stephen Pruitt offered another wise suggestion, advocating to postpone naming the peninsula and instead focus on cleaning up the lake to make it swimmable again. A true community-oriented suggestion, Pruitt's idea highlights the importance of environmental justice and community health.

Honoring diversity and culture

Criselda Corelia Kelley put forth a beautiful suggestion: "La Isla" or "La Isla Bonita." By choosing a Spanish name, Kelley honors the rich Latino heritage of the neighboring district. Kelley also巧妙地 references Madonna, adding a touch of pop culture flair.

Celebrating nature

Jennifer Bristol, author and nature enthusiast, provided a straightforward yet powerful suggestion: "Blue Heron Point." By naming the peninsula after the majestic bird, Bristol highlights the beauty of Austin's natural environment and the need to protect it.

A roll call of honor

Of course, many readers offered suggestions of people they believed worthy of recognition:

• Chad Kissinger suggested Fred Cantu, a notable figure in the community.
• Lane Rockford Orsak proposed "Cisco Point" to honor the late place-maker Rudy "Cisco" Cisneros, a true Austinite.
• Bob Gier put forth the name of a late American-Statesman humor columnist, John Kelso.
• Teresa Harrison wanted to recognize the legendary Molly Ivins with "Molly Ivins Isle," a fitting tribute to a powerful woman.
• Alicia Sankar suggested recognizing distance runner Gilbert Tuhabonye and Austin mayor Kirk Watson, both notable figures in Austin's history.
• Richard Whitaker provided a lighthearted moment with "Peninsula McPeninsulaface."
• Michael Agresta nominated the artist behind the power plant murals, Fidencio Duran, and his late dog Ivan, a frequent swimmer at the lake.

Commemorating local icons

Two of Austin's beloved eccentrics also received votes:

• C Lo and Lauren proposed "Leslie Cochran Peninsula" or "Cape Leslie," respectively, honoring the creatively dressed mayoral candidate who embodied the "Keep Austin Weird" spirit.
• Craig Towns suggested recognizing "Crazy Carl" Hickerson, an Austin legend who took a stand against boat races on Town Lake, disrupting the event and ultimately ending the disruption in the neighborhood.

While historically, Latino neighborhood activists played a significant role in ending the boat races, Hickerson's contribution, as verified in a documentary by Mike Woolf, adds a colorful chapter to Austin's history.

Final thoughts

As we reflect on the myriad of suggestions, it's important to remember that the process of officially naming a public place is intricate and often tedious. However, this exercise in community engagement highlights the rich tapestry of Austin's diverse community and their passion for honoring the city's unique heritage.

Send your questions or answers about Central Texas to "Austin Answered" at mbarnes@statesman.com.