Residents in 1945 pushed back against William Payne’s hiring at Pacific Beach Junior High because they argued there were few Black students at the school.
Pacific Beach resident Paige Hernandez said the park’s name change reaffirms the historical presence of Black community members in Pacific Beach, and it sends a message that racism will not be tolerated, she said.
“It is a way for community members who might be Black and Brown, who live here, to heal and to see that community members do care about their existence here,” Hernandez said.
The 82,000-square foot park is located on Diamond Street. It is used by students at Pacific Beach Middle and by residents when school is not in session.