When I first saw that the local chapter of the NAACP wants to rename part of Capitol Parkway after Rosa Parks, I thought, "Oh man, that would be a pain! Think of all the addresses that would have to change..."
Then I realized that they're talking about Capitol Parkway from 9th Street to Highway 77. That deals with my initial concern -- nobody has an address on that stretch of Capitol Parkway -- but it raises another: how much of an honor is it to name such a boring, unloved stretch of pavement after someone? Not much, in my opinion.
So then I tried to come up with a better road to (re)name. Three possibilities immediately came to mind: the new north/south Antelope Valley roadway; the South Beltway; and the East Beltway. I think the Antelope Valley roadway already has a name, but since most of it doesn't exist yet, renaming it would take little more than changing a few planning maps. The beltways, I admit, are almost vaporware at this point, but due to their prominence they would be more of an honor. Some day.
Another possibility that I would propose is giving Highway 2 -- aka "Nebraska Highway" -- a "real" name. Once the South Beltway is completed it won't be Highway 2 any more. And personally, I think that renaming it will make it seem less like a highway, and therefore people will treat it less like one. (Cornhusker Highway, I suppose, could also be a candidate, but its environs will take a lot of work before I would consider naming it after Rosa Parks.)
What current or future stretch of road would you name after Rosa Parks?
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To answer your question, I’d have to say Lincoln Mall - the 3 block street from the Unicam to the City/County Building.
Not a bad idea Mr. T!
I also like the idea of the north/south Antelope Valley Road as well as Highway 2. I think renaming Lincoln Mall is my favorite choice.
At first I thought you meant Centennial Mall, but Lincoln Mall isn’t a bad idea at all. There are a few businesses along there, so that’s a downside. But the symbolism of the road’s government connections—not to mention its heavy use by city buses—is interesting.
And the flowery medians are kind of like little rosey parks.
*snort*
We’ll be seeing that in the LJS this week, right? Please?
I know what Rosa Parks did.
I know what Rosa Parks symbolizes.
Why in Lincoln?
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