SF Parks & Rec 7/18 Meeting: Rachele Sullivan Park
Updated: Sep 10, 2024
When you love someone, cherish all the memories you've made with them. I want to begin by providing some background information before discussing the SF Parks & Rec Meeting. My auntie Rachele Sullivan passed away in the cold month of January 2022, one month after her birthday on December 17th. She was a loving, strong, and independent mother who loved her son Sebastion (my cousin), the boy in the middle next to the lady in the red hat (my grandmother), and the lady in the purple shirt (my other aunt). Yet, to others outside of the family, she was an activist, a healer, a nurse, and many more titles one could give. My auntie made an impact in the communities she touched and was recognized as a public figure in the SF Chronicle and speaker in "Unsung Heroes: the Leather Community’s Response to AIDS" - Interview with Rachele Sullivan. When she passed away, it was a devastating moment and a heartbreak for everyone who was present. Yet, before her passing, she decided to give all her nephews and nieces presents from Amazon and told them she loved them always. She also spoke to my grandmother, whom my grandma loves to repeat.
Before Rachele passed away she said, "I'm going to be remembered for the next 100 years".
Two years later, I received a notification about a form of voting for a park to be named after my aunt, "Rachele Sullivan Park". The park is a new park going to be built in San Francisco located on 11th Street and Natoma Street. The reason for choosing an individual's name for the park was for the community and an individual who made an impact within the community. The voting process took three rounds and the highest name was Rachele Sullivan Park. To finalize the name, my family members and I attended the SF Parks & Recreation Meeting.
San Francisco, California, July 18, 2024 - My mom, aunt, cousin(s), grandmother, and I all attended the SF Parks & Recreation Meeting. When the motion was called for discussion about naming the 11th Street and Natoma Street Park, there were three choices mentioned, including my aunt. The committee had asked if anyone from the public would like to speak on behalf of any of the names that were chosen. The other two names did not have public comments in comparison to my aunt. My family and other members from the public spoke about my auntie and the reason why the park should be named Rachele Sullivan Park. Below are the committee notes and a video of our testimonies. In the end, after everyone spoke, the committee made a vote and my auntie's name was approved. The 11th Street and Natoma Street Park will be named Rachele Sullivan Park, and she will be remembered in history.
Here are some articles to read about Rachele Sullivan Park:
"I love you mahal" - Auntie Rachele
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