Doan Trang | Saigon NHO News
On a weekend morning, I visited Tony Lam Park, a public park named after the first Vietnamese American elected to public office in the United States.
Around 9 a.m., the park was already bustling with people. The first two women I met were Ms. Dung Hoang and Ms. Tu, who live right next to the park. Ms. Dung shared: “Every day, Ms. Tu and I walk around the park about five times, which takes us about 30 minutes. We’re older now, so walking really helps us feel good!”
Residents here say that during the weekdays, elderly people come out to walk and relax, while the tennis courts are more popular with middle-aged adults.
I visited the tennis courts around 9:30 a.m. and found several people playing.
Ms. Jacky Tran, a Westminster resident and one of the tennis players who had just finished a set, said: “I like coming here because there are six tennis courts, and it’s all free. It’s first come, first served. It’s usually less crowded on weekdays because most people are at work, but weekends are busy. It’s even more packed in the evenings, although the lights go off around 9 or 10 p.m. I used to play at night, but now I just come during the day.”
According to Ms. Jacky, parks in Fountain Valley are privately managed, so players there have to pay fees. Having this park is great because it gives older adults a place to meet, talk, walk, and relax. Notably, on March 26, the park unveiled a brand new playground with slides and climbing structures for children, replacing the old, rusted equipment.
In the distance, a group of Scouts were gathered, and a few children were playing on the slide. Ten-year-old John Huynh shared excitedly: “We love coming here because the new slide is awesome! But on weekdays, we have school, so our parents only bring us on weekends. We can’t wait for the weekend to come!”
A community landmark in Little Saigon
Tony Lam Park, formerly known as West Park, is located in Westminster, California, on McFadden Avenue near Beach Boulevard, in the heart of Little Saigon – the cultural capital for the Vietnamese-American community. It plays an important role as both a public park and a cultural and community hub for local Vietnamese Americans.
The renaming of West Park to Tony Lam Park was meant to honor Tony Lam, the first Vietnamese American elected to public office in the U.S. This is also the first park named after a Vietnamese American.
“We are very happy and honored that the City Council agreed to rename the park,” Tony Lam shared. “This is a late-life gift to me, and also a gift to the Vietnamese community overseas.”
Tony Lam Park offers many family-friendly amenities, making it a popular gathering spot for recreation and community events. Covering 1.6 acres, the park features a children’s playground with modern, accessible equipment, shaded picnic areas ideal for family gatherings, and outdoor exercise stations to promote physical activity among adults and seniors.
Ms. Dung added: “Having this park is wonderful, but if we had more exercise equipment for seniors, it would be even better – like the park at Magnolia and Hazard, which also belongs to Westminster and has a lot of equipment. Right now, all us seniors aged 70 or 80 can do is walk back and forth or sit and stand.”
A hub for community events
Tony Lam Park (15021 Jackson Street, Westminster, CA 92683) is a center for Vietnamese cultural events and celebrations. The park is frequently used for activities such as Lunar New Year festivals, family picnics, and community programs that honor Vietnamese heritage.
Its location within a residential neighborhood enhances its sense of belonging and accessibility for locals. The park is especially family-friendly and a gathering place for the community.
Westminster has a population of about 90,000, with a significant portion being Vietnamese. In fact, Westminster is considered the heart of Little Saigon-the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. Vietnamese Americans make up approximately 40-45% of the city’s population, contributing significantly to the local culture, economy, and politics.
The area surrounding Tony Lam Park includes primarily single-family homes and apartment complexes, with many small businesses, schools, and shopping centers nearby. Iconic spots like Bolsa Avenue, with its many Vietnamese restaurants, markets, and cultural businesses, are just a short drive away.
The legacy of Tony Lam
Tony Lam was a well-known businessman in Saigon before 1975, operating dried goods and frozen seafood factories in Saigon and Cholon. According to his own accounts, when Saigon fell in April 1975, his family had to flee with nothing.
After arriving in the United States, Lam worked various jobs before opening Vien Dong Market in Garden Grove. In 1980, he co-founded the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce in Orange County to support Vietnamese entrepreneurs. He also played a key role in organizing charitable activities through the Lions Club, helping disabled and blind individuals.
In 1992, he won a seat on the Westminster City Council, becoming the first Vietnamese American elected to public office in the U.S. Lam served three terms from 1992 to 2002, making significant contributions to public safety and community development.
Lam told us that his fluency in English and strong communication skills helped him gain support from the police, mayor, local mobile home park owners, and even residents in neighborhoods with few Vietnamese people. His campaign ran from May to early November 1992, and he won with over 3,000 votes—138 more than his closest competitor, Mrs. Rice (candidate Jimmy Tong Nguyen received 1,500 votes, while the remaining three candidates had very few votes).
After being elected, Lam established a “Target Team” focused on combating crime, especially home burglaries. At the time, Westminster’s crime rate was over 60%, but thanks to the Target Team and close cooperation with police, the rate dropped to 47%.
Lam served on the City Council for ten years across three terms before choosing not to seek re-election in 2002.
On May 3, 2022, hundreds of Westminster residents attended a historic ceremony as West Park was officially renamed Tony Lam Park in his honor.
A symbol of cultural pride and civic engagement
Tony Lam Park stands as a symbol of cultural pride and civic engagement, honoring the achievements of the Vietnamese-American community. Renaming West Park to Tony Lam Park reflects the community’s desire to celebrate its heritage and create a space for cultural expression and social connection.
Urban parks often serve as cultural centers, reflecting the identity and values of the communities around them. Just as Chicano Park in San Diego honors Mexican-American heritage through murals and sculptures, Tony Lam Park offers a space where Vietnamese traditions are celebrated and preserved.
Studies show that parks play a vital role in promoting social interactions and cultural connections, especially among ethnic communities. For Vietnamese Americans in Westminster, Tony Lam Park is more than just a recreational area—it is a symbol of resilience, cultural pride, and civic participation.
Tony Lam Park exemplifies how urban green spaces can be transformed into cultural landmarks that celebrate and serve specific ethnic communities. By recognizing the historical and cultural significance of such parks, cities can foster inclusion, cultural pride, and social cohesion among diverse populations.
This story was produced by Ethnic Media Services in collaboration with the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) at UCLA as part of the Greening American Cities initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. Read more stories like this by visiting the Greening Communities homepage.
