Jul 9, 2015 2 min read

A small park being developed on an empty lot on Washington’s East Wheeling Street has been in the news quite a bit lately. A gazebo, picnic tables and planters filled with flowers have appeared on what was an unsightly slab of concrete. The project is the work of WashArts, which together with the city received a Benedum Foundation grant to develop the property.

The owner of the property, John Richman, granted a three-year easement to the city, but now that the lot is no longer an unsightly eyesore, he is apparently more interested in selling it. Thus, the small park is now a battleground for lawyers.

But there’s another problem here: What’s the best word to call such a small park?

In the Whiskey Rebellion Festival Magazine, which was distributed in the July 5 edition of the newspaper as well as being handed out at this weekend’s event, the place is called Heritage Parklet. The legal document of easement for the property refers to it as a parklete. Observer-Reporter parkette.

So, which is it?

You’ll find none of these words in Webster’s Unabridged International Dictionary (that’s the really, really big one). All three are made-up words.

parkitoparkinka.

Whatever you call it, the little park will be a popular place tomorrow during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival when it will host live music and children’s activities organized by WashArts.

Let’s just hope that Mr. Richman doesn’t decide to show up yelling, “Hey you kids, get off my property!”