Plan to name park for Nancy Reagan faces headwinds
ARLINGTON, Va. — In one of Virginia’s most liberal jurisdictions, political leaders are just saying ‘no’ to a proposal in Congress to name a popular park for former first lady Nancy Reagan.
Legislation passed a House committee last month to rename Gravelly Point Park, which sits on federal land adjacent to Ronald Reagan National Airport. The bill’s sponsor, Georgia Republican Jody Hice, said renaming the park for the former first lady — who is commonly associated with the “Just Say No” drugs campaign — “would be a fitting tribute” given its proximity to the airport that bears her husband’s name.
The proposal, though, is not supported by political leaders in Arlington County, a suburb of the nation’s capital, where the park is located.
“It’s not an absolute blanket opposition to Nancy Reagan,” said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who represents Arlington in Congress. “I object to a member of Congress from Georgia trying to name a park in somebody else’s district.”