CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A member of the Kanawha County Commission is going public with his opposition to a possible name change for Coonskin Park.
“I’ve never had, in my 14 years as a county commissioner, one person ever complain to me about that name — that that name is offensive in any way,” Commissioner Dave Hardy told 58-WCHS.
Coming up on Thursday, members of the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission are scheduled to take up the possible renaming of Coonskin Park following a couple of complaints about “coonskin” being a potentially offensive term for African Americans.
Hardy said the name, in his view, references headwear. At Sunday’s Capital Classic, “The Mountaineer was wearing a coonskin cap and I think we all know what that is. It’s a hat that was worn by people like Davy Crockett when they explored this valley many years ago,” he said.
The possible renaming is coming up now because new signs for Coonskin Park will be needed for the revamped park entrance that is taking shape.
Hardy argued the name Coonskin Park should remain intact and the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission should ask the state Department of Transportation to name the new bridge that will one day serve as the Park’s entrance for Hoppy Shores, the longtime Kanawha County commissioner.
“He’s a military veteran and I think that would be very appropriate to honor, not only the fact that he’s a veteran, but to also honor the great work he’s done at the airport and the parks commission for all these years,” Hardy said.
Shores will be sworn in for his 7th term on the Kanawha County Commission on Tuesday night.
A group of Kanawha County residents created Coonskin Park, which is located ten minutes from Downtown Charleston, more than 50 years ago.