Newsom administration proposes renaming Fremont state park

The proposal

The Newsom administration has proposed removing explorer John C. Fremont’s name from a California state park. The administration says Fremont’s violence against Native Americans is the basis for the proposed name change.

The proposal concerns the park’s name, not the creation of a new park or a change to the park’s location. The state park is identified in the announcement through Fremont’s name, but the park’s replacement name has not been stated here.

Why Fremont is cited

John C. Fremont was an explorer whose name appears in the park’s current name. The Newsom administration is pointing to violence against Native Americans as a reason that his name should no longer identify the park.

That explanation places the issue in the state’s treatment of public names and places connected to historical figures. The proposed change does not, by itself, establish a final name for the park.

What happens next

The action described is a proposal by the Newsom administration. A final decision and the process for adopting a new name are not included in the announcement.

The Mercury News reported on the proposal. The report is linked below.