A plan to name a new Vancouver park after local philanthropists has run into an unexpected complication based on something city officials never expected: the philanthropists’ last name.

The city wants to honor its promise to name a park in Vancouver’s Northwest neighborhood after Ed and Dollie Lynch, but after continued pushback from the community, and particularly from people of color, the park’s name may be up for debate.

The issue stems from the casual shortening of the park’s name in materials meant to promote the city’s effort to develop a sustainable funding plan known as Stronger Vancouver. When distributed to the community, the park was referred to simply as “Lynch Neighborhood Park.”

The name quickly sparked opposition. Many addressed the Vancouver City Council, reminding the governing body of the painful past associated with the term “lynch” and expressing their frustration with the city’s response to their concerns. This discussion happened not once, but twice: first at a Nov. 26 meeting and again at Monday’s citizen forum.

“The attempt to separate the word and surname erases history,” said Cecelia Towner, head of Black Lives Matter Vancouver. Dozens of Black Lives Matters supporters turned up at Monday’s meeting to discuss the park’s name. “The word, deed and name began intertwined and they continue to be … at least for black people.”