FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth City Council has voted unanimously to rename the Hillside Recreation Center after Atatiana Jefferson, who was killed by a police officer.
Councilman Chris Nettles started working on the name change proposal more than a year ago. Nettles told WFAA he started the work after hearing from people in his district.
Nettles on Tuesday was prepared to hear alternative proposals from the public and his fellow council members when it comes to the Hillside Recreation Center. Since learning of other names people want considered, he encouraged residents to reach out to city leaders.
"There is a long list of names that the city of Fort Worth should honor here in the city. I'm respectful of those names that have come up. I've just been aware of some of the names and some of them are still living. One of the rules and guidelines is that when you rename a center or anything, city property is normally common for the person to be deceased," Nettles said before Tuesday's vote.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Nettles said the compromise was the rename the recreation center the Atatiana Carr Jefferson at Hillside Community Center.
Ahead of the vote, people against the name change spoke out.
One of them was longtime Fort Worth resident Marcus Graves. He said he strongly supports the family of Atatiana Jefferson but wants the recreation center dear to his heart to stay as is.
"I am 100% against it," Graves said. "Hillside Recreation Center saved a lot of us when we were growing up as kids in that community."
Graves spoke out from his hospital bed. That's where he recruited others to speak at the Fort Worth council meeting on Tuesday.
Outside, the recreation center has a new playground for parents to take their kids. Inside, there is a full-size gym with basketball hoops, a computer lab for students and activity rooms for special programs. The center offers some programs that are free and others with minimal fees if families can afford to pay.
Resident James Smith was one of the people who strongly supports changing the Hillside name.
In October 2019, it was Smith who called police to do a welfare check at Jefferson's home. It ended tragically after former officer Aaron Dean fatally shot the 28-year-old college student through a window.
Since then, the city proclaimed Oct. 12 as Tay Day in Fort Worth, and council members voted to rename a Fort Worth street after Jefferson.
"I know Hillside Park like the back of my hand, renaming the community center would be a rebirth of change in the city of Fort Worth," Smith said at the council meeting.
"Change needs to come to the south side of Fort Worth and Hillside will be the beacon of change," Smith added.