Popular Columbia Park Trail in Kennewick is getting a new name

Columbia Park Trail along the Columbia River in Kennewick is being renamed for longtime, retiring Kennewick Councilman Paul Parish.

Street signs are expected to be changed by Dec. 27 to Paul Parish Drive.

Kennewick only has the authority to change the name of the street to the edge of its city limits.

Richland plans to keep the Columbia Park Trail name from near the Reach museum and Bateman Island west to Queensgate Drive.

Parish attended his last council meeting Tuesday night, after serving on the council for 24 years. He did not run for re-election.

The council voted to rename the roadway through Columbia Park in Kennewick to recognize Parish’s service to the city and his advocacy for the park and the activities there.

He worked on the Veterans Memorial and the J&S Express train in the park and is an annual volunteer with the hydroplanes at the Water Follies.

He also has worked to make sure park features are accessible to the disabled, and has supported the Playground of Dreams and nearby splash playground at the park.

Costs for renaming the Kennewick roadway should be minimal, since the city manufactures its own street signs and will use city crews to install them, said officials.

Because the street runs through the park, there are few addresses that will need to be changed. However, Bite at the Landing, the new restaurant at the Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex will get a new street address.

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 11:05 AM.