A Moncton man’s attempt to rename Riverfront Park in Moncton in favour of a First Nations name is causing a controversy in the city.

Pascal Pelletier is asking Moncton city council to rename the downtown park because he said there are no streets, buildings or parks in the city named in honour of the Mi'kmaq.

The proposal was proceeding smoothly at Moncton city council this week as councillors showed interest in renaming Riverfront Park.

But that idea then hit opposition from Coun. Kathryn Barnes.

Barnes said the park was already re-named in 1998

“I don't know why it's left to me to be the bearer of bad news but the Riverfront Park was already named Settlers Green in 1998,” Barnes said.

Barnes said Settlers Green honours the Irish, Scottish, English, Acadians and Germans who settled in Moncton. But the city has never changed the sign at Riverfront Park.

Paul Thomson, the director of communications for Moncton, said he cannot explain why the sign was never changed at the park.

“I don't think there was ever any signage erected to that end and I’m not quite sure of the reasons or rationale for that,” he said.

The city lists Riverfront Park on its website and includes Settlers Green as a point of interest, along with Bore View Park and the Skateboard Park.

Pelletier said he does not believe that the name Settlers Green has ever resonated in the city.

“If we do a quick survey, I'm pretty sure nobody has ever heard of Settler's Green,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier said he is glad people in Moncton are talking about using a First Nations name for the park.

He said so far there's nothing in the city that reflects First Nation's culture.

Aside from Barnes’s opposition, Pelletier said he’s encouraged that some city councillors are looking for ways to respect First Nations culture:

“We have to talk about it. It's really a discussion and I'm sure everybody can come together and say, ‘What is the best way to honour our history,’” Pelletier said.