City of Phoenix Begins Implementation of Council Direction on Cesar Chavez Renaming Actions

The Mayor and City Council voted today on sweeping changes that will begin the process for removing Cesar Chavez's name and likeness from City of Phoenix street signs, facilities, and public art. The City of Phoenix will take immediate action and initiate related processes, outlined as follows:

Holiday: March 31, 2026 will be designated as Farmworkers Day. The name of future observances will require additional City Council action.

Street Signs: All 43 ceremonial street signs along Baseline Road (75th Avenue to 48th Street) identifying Cesar Chavez Boulevard will be removed within a week.

Facilities: Cesar Chavez’s name will be removed from City facilities as soon as possible. The process to rename each facility will proceed according to each site’s governing authority.

Park, Community Center, Dog Park, and Amphitheater: The Parks and Recreation Board will follow its formal public notification and hearing process before approving any name changes. This process will begin tomorrow, March 26, at the Parks Board meeting.

Library: Phoenix Public Library will defer to Phoenix City Council’s guidance in renaming Cesar Chavez Library.

Plaza: Current signage will be covered immediately. Future City Council action will be required to determine a new name.

Senior Center (not yet built): The planned Cesar Chavez Senior Center, a future project funded by the 2023 General Obligation Bond, will be referred to as the Laveen Senior Center in working documents until a new name is decided by the City Council.

Public Art: Artwork referencing Cesar Chavez will move through the City’s established deaccession and recontextualization processes, including Arts and Culture Commission review and required artist notification under the federal Visual Artists Rights Act. The bronze sculpture at the park will be covered while it goes through this process. All locations will be evaluated for potential replacement art in the future.

City of Phoenix staff will report back progress made on these topics to the City Council within 30 days. These coordinated actions mark the beginning of a multi‑department implementation effort aligned with City policy, public processes, and Council direction.