Danville's Front Street Park Renamed Eugene O'Neill Park

DANVILLE, CA — Danville’s Front Street Park is now named Eugene O’Neill Park, named after the Nobel Prize-winning playwright who lived in the town from 1937 to 1944.

The Danville Town Council voted in July to rename the park, which features commemorative pedestals with bronze lettering and quotations from some of O’Neill’s most recognized works.

The ceremony last Friday featured remarks from Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich, Eugene O’Neil Foundation Co-President Tom Baxter, Danville Poet Laureate Elaine Betts, Danville Youth Poet Laureate Brooke Kay, and John Fleming, the chair of the Municipal District of New Ross, Ireland. O’Neill’s father James emigrated to America from New Ross, and New Ross and Danville have collaborated on the annual Eugene O’Neill Festival. This year, New Ross will host the Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre from Oct. 14-18.

“Eugene O’Neill Park is an outdoor celebration of his words and his life – a place where art, landscape, literature and community come together, where creativity is inspired, history is remembered, and the friendship between Danville and New Ross, Ireland, continues to grow for generations,” Mayor Arnerich said in a statement.

Kay recited a poem, which reflected on what it means for a place to change its name. “Now, since my title is being replaced, I realize that it’s not the name that’s changing. It’s the way I’m remembered,” her poem reads.

The renaming takes place as Danville hosts the annual Eugene O’Neill Festival, a series of events honoring the playwright that will take place until Sept. 27. This year’s festival features live performances of “Teddy” and “Ah, Wilderness!” at the Tao House; a museum exhibit at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley dedicated to the Tao House, O’Neill’s former Danville residence.

Visit eugeneoneill.org for more information.

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