Facebook Push to Rename Brooklyn Heights Park After Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch

After a three year battle with cancer Adam Yauch, founding member of the hip-hop music group Beastie Boys died on May 4, 2012, and now his friends and fans would like to do something to honor his memory.

The original idea was to rename Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights for the musician, who was also often referred to as “MCA.” A Facebook page was begun to create momentum for such a move. The Facebook petition called for the renaming of Squibb Park as an appropriate way to remember the rapper since the park is now undergoing renovation to become a skate park as well as being the gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

However, now there is a shift in what Yauch’s fans would like to see happen. Led by Beastie Boys member Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, the present desire is to allow Squibb to keep its name, and give Yauch’s moniker to State Street Park, also in Brooklyn Heights. Horovitz’s wife Kathleen Hanna explained in a note to the Facebook site which is pushing for the park’s renaming why they believe State Street is a preferred site for renaming in Yauch’s memory.

“I just wanted to let you know that Adam “Adrock” Horovitz has already begun working with the Parks Commissioner to fix up and rename State Street Park where Yauch actually played as a kid to Adam Yauch Park. It would be great to get people behind THIS idea as it won’t hurt the Squibb family….Thanks, Kathleen Hanna.”

The Brooklyn Heights community was convinced of the sensibility of this move and has enthusiastically endorsed Kathleen Hanna’s request. The Facebook page is now updated to pursue the renaming of State Street Park to Adam Yauch Park, and Squibb Park will remain as it is now called.