Golden Gate Park lake sheds racist legacy with new name

After months of public input and deliberation, Golden Gate Park’s Stow Lake officially has a new name: Blue Heron Lake.

San Francisco supervisors first urged the city’s Recreation and Park Commission to rename the lake back in October 2022, saying the lake’s original namesake — 19th century state Assembly Member William W. Stow — had a history of supporting antisemitic policies and xenophobic views.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who represents the district encompassing the lake, collected suggestions for a rename through an online poll. The results, released in November, took inspiration everywhere from famous former San Franciscans to local wildlife. But the final say rested with the Recreation and Park Commission.

On Thursday, the commission voted to adopt the name Blue Heron Lake, Melgar’s office confirmed. The name draws inspiration from the elegant birds that nest around the lake and can often be seen hunting small prey throughout the park.

The rename will also affect the boathouse at the lake and the road encircling it. The commission noted the new name “reflects San Francisco’s expressed values of celebrating diversity.”

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Park-goers are seen at Golden Gate Park’s former Stow Lake, named for a 19th century Assembly member who had antisemitic and xenophobic views.