A third grade class from Broadview Elementary School was recognized at an Oak Harbor City Council meeting last week for naming a park in town.

Broadview Elementary teacher Tom Karney and his class joined the council members at city hall during a public meeting June 6, where Mayor Bob Severns announced that the city’s parks and recreation department had chosen the class’s nominated name — Explorer Park.

The city decided to partner with the elementary school to name a lot adjacent to the school previously known as Well Site 10 after students helped plant trees there during an Arbor Day celebration. Third grade classes submitted their nominations to the parks and recreation department, members of which made the selection, according to department Director Brian Smith.

“There were many great and very creative names, and we’ve actually held onto a few for future designation of parks because we loved them so much,” Smith said.

Karney’s students, who received a standing ovation from city council members and staff at last week’s meeting, said they picked the name “Explorer Park” because Broadview Elementary School students are known as “explorers.” This was also the reason Smith said the department ultimately chose this nomination.

“‘Explorer Park’ gives a sense of stewardship to the students to care for the natural spaces around them,” he said. “Each day, many students will pass by Explorer Park and watch the trees that they planted during the Arbor Day event there grow along with them.”

Severns said he was grateful for the students’ participation in the parks project and at the meeting.

“We appreciate you coming,” he told the students. “We hope that one day you’ll want to be a city councilor or a mayor.”