There's an online petition circulating to rename Grand Coteau Park.  The signature goal is 200 signatures, and the petitioner tells News 10 that within 48 hours they've reached half of that goal.

GRAND COTEAU, La. (KLFY) -- There's an online petition circulating to rename Grand Coteau Park. The signature goal is 200 signatures, and the petitioner tells News 10 that within 48 hours they've reached half of that goal.

Residents Tahaka Sonnier and Carlos Guilbeau are pushing for Grand Coteau Park to be renamed.  Currently, the park is simply called Grand Coteau Park.

"When trying to find Grand Coteau Park on Google Maps you cannot find us. When you come here into the park, there is no sign stating that it's Grand Coteau Park," Sonnier explained.

The petition is online at change.org, and proposal is to rename the park John Bob Memorial Park.

"John Bob was not only an educator but he was a principal. He was one the first African American mayors after the reconstruction. He was an investor and relator and a father as well," Sonnier said.

Guilbeau believes renaming the park could help give kids guidance. 

"We have nothing here. Implementing this park and putting things out here gives them (children) an opportunity to be a part of something instead of being a part of rift raft," Guilbeau added.

Guilbeau says Mr. John Bob is the reason for the park being there. 

"Most people don't know that he acquired the loan for this, which actually got paid off over several decades," Guilbeau said.

Sonnier says renaming the park would help remember key community members.

"Also, we want to commemorate individuals who have done key things here in the community by naming each particular field.  The soccer field will be named after a particular key figure in our community," Sonnier explained.

The final petition of signatures will be presented to the city at next month's town council meeting.

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