It was announced Jan. 13 by the Department of Parks and Recreation that what was to be "Perugia Park" will now be named "Summit Slope Park".

On Dec. 30, 2009, Seattle Parks announced their naming of an abandoned former parking lot at 200 Summit Ave. E. on Capitol Hill would be "Perugia Park" in honor of one of Seattle's sister cities, Perugia, Italy. Then, a few ticks before New Year's Eve the next day, Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher put the name on hold. The name was nominated by the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Organization and its director, Mike James. Seattle has 21 sister cities in its program.

The controversy was due to West Seattle-raised Amanda Knox who has been in a prison in Perugia since November, 2007 for the murder of her college roommate Meredith Kercher in that city. The trial is currently in the appeal process with the next court hearing scheduled for Jan. 22.

James told the West Seattle Herald last year that he had hoped Seattle citizens would not associate Perugia, a scenic, historic city in Umbia strictly with the Knox trial. Chris Mellas, Amanda Knox's step-father, told the Herald he thought the timing of naming the park after the city was "disgusting."

"The park was not named 'Perugia Park' because of the controversy that arose when Tim Gallagher announced the name over a year ago," Parks Information manager Dewey Potter told the West Seattle Herald today. "We have been working with the (Seattle-Perugia) Sister City Program to find an alternate way to honor the 19-year Sister City relationship through some recognition of a cultural symbol of Perugia rather than through a name, like a piece of art, or a plaque."

Perugia has a Seattle Sister City park named Orca Park, which features “Sister Orca,” a sculpture created by Seattle artist Marvin Oliver and dedicated in July 2008.

"It would be in a different park that hasn't been developed yet," Potter said. "Several funded by the Parks and Green Spaces levy are coming down the pike.
People who believed that Ms. Knox was innocent said, 'Don't do that.' Tim Gallagher reversed his decision. We were just trying to find a solution that would not upset people."

To see our original story on the controversial park naming, go to:

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2009/12/31/news/perugia-park-put-hold-…