Students of Mount Si High School (MSHS) have been working to add the honorary name of “Wildcat Way” to Meadowbrook Way for the past five years.
After past rejections from city council, the request was unanimously approved at the Aug. 26 city council meeting.
MSHS Associated Student Body (ASB) representatives have worked throughout the summer to create a presentation on the importance of the honorary name change to present to the city council.
Student representatives at the Aug. 26 meeting included Chirag Vedullapalli, a recent MSHS graduate.
Several other MSHS students and recent graduates attended the meeting to show support.
In Vedullapalli’s presentation to the city council, she and her colleague noted the name change would embrace school and community spirit into city infrastructure, allow visitors to easily find the high school, show the city cares for the students, and celebrate the completion of the new school.
“We want to celebrate the completion of the brand new high school,” Vedullapalli said. “The entire Valley really came together to make it happen and it was built with their tax dollars, so there’s no better way to celebrate it.”
In the past, most objections to the honorary naming stemmed from the history of the name Meadowbrook, which was once a town located near the intersection of Park Street and Meadowbrook Way until it became part of the city of Snoqualmie.
To relieve those concerns, the students suggested naming the new baseball and softball fields “Meadowbrook Field.” Students also reached out in person to residents living on Meadowbrook Way to explain their efforts.
Over the summer, MSHS students sought feedback from residents about the honorary street name change. According to their feedback, most residents welcomed the idea of the honorary street sign as long as Meadowbrook Way remained the legal street name.
The street name will officially remain Meadowbrook – no addresses will change. Additional “Wildcat Way” signs will be added to the light post at Railroad Ave and Meadowbrook, the stop sign on Park Street and another near the entrance to the new school in school colors to distinguish it and avoid confusion with the official street name.
The Wildcat Way signs will be paid for by the class of 2019 and be made by the company that currently makes the city’s street signs. Each sign will cost $600, bringing the total for the three signs to $1,800.
“I think this is a great idea. It reflects our values in community spirit and pride,” Councilmember Katherine Ross said.
Councilmember Sean Sundwall said while the primary objections to the honorary street name change are related to the historical significance to the town of Meadowbrook, MSHS also has a historical significance to the area as it has been in existence since the 1940s.
“I think there’s a way to honor both entities, both communities, and I think this is a good way to do it,” he said.
No definite date was set for sign installation. A city planner said it would happen quickly.
The council vote was met by cheers from students, school and district administrators and community members in attendance.
