SPOKANE, Wash. — The City of Spokane is asking the community for help to rename the East Central Community Center.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center moved into the building last year. According to the city, the center's management asked to rename the center, The Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center.
Before the name can be changed the city must take it to the public for a vote.
There are seven options which represent prominent people or places in the Spokane Community. The options include: Lydia Sims, Peter Barrow, Emmett Holmes, Liberty, Underhill, Martin Luther King Jr. Outreach, and East Central Community Center.
Lydia Sims was the first woman to serve as president of Spokane's NAACP. Sims served as the city's human resources director and was the first African American department manager.
Peter Barrow established Spokane's oldest historically black church, Calvary Baptist Church.
Emmett Holmes helped establish Calvary Baptist Church and the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served as deputy county treasurer of Spokane County and postmaster in the Washington State House of Representatives and Senate.
Liberty Park was a popular park in the Spokane community before much of the park was relocated to make room for Interstate 90.
Underhill Park is connected to Liberty Park and has different areas to play sports.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center has served the community for decades. It offers several services for children, youth, families and senior citizens.
The current building houses most of the MLK Family Outreach Center's services such as the food bank and summer youth academy.
The organization recently received approval to begin renovations. The work will begin later this summer.
After the renovations, the children still at the location on Sherman Street will move to the East Central Community Center location. They hope to move in before the new year.
Citizens are encouraged to vote online for their favorite name by Friday.