Eugene group wants public square named for Ken Kesey

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A group of Eugene residents wants the city’s public square named after author Ken Kesey, a native Oregonian.

The Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/2f9nUsS ) that the square officially known as Broadway Plaza will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Friday. It contains a statue of Kesey reading to his grandchildren and many Eugene residents know it by its informal moniker, Kesey Square.

A group called Friends of Kesey Square asked city officials to change the name last week. The City Council would have to approve the name change.

Jerry Diethelm, a co-founder of the group and retired University of Oregon professor, says he had received no response from Eugene officials as of Thursday.

Kesey grew up in Springfield and graduated from the UO. Diethelm says Kesey’s work represents “real creativity and Northwest focus.”

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com