Moorhead Renames Park to Honor Friendship with Zakho
In a statement published on Thursday, the city said the new name reflects the values of connection, collaboration, and community fostered through the Friendship City relationship between Moorhead and Zakho.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The City of Moorhead in Minnesota, has announced that it will rename Johnson Farms Park to Friendship Park in recognition of its growing cultural partnership with Zakho Independent Administration.
In a statement published on Thursday, the city said the new name reflects the values of connection, collaboration, and community fostered through the Friendship City relationship between Moorhead and Zakho.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the renaming will be held on Friday, October 16, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the park, located at 1599 Johnson Drive in Moorhead. The event will include remarks, the unveiling of new park signage, and an opportunity for residents to learn more about ongoing international partnership efforts.
“Friendship Park embodies the spirit of our growing relationship with Zakho and the rich cultural diversity that strengthens Moorhead,” Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson said. “This name represents who we are and what we value. Welcoming neighbors, building bridges, and celebrating the friendships that make our community vibrant.”
The renaming follows further developments in the partnership, including a Global Intelligence Friendship Update event cohosted by the City of Moorhead and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The event highlighted Kurdish culture, global learning, and reflections from a Moorhead delegation’s visit to the Kurdistan Region.
According to the city, Moorhead is home to an estimated 3,500 Kurdish residents, accounting for approximately 8 percent of its population.
The Friendship City initiative aims to strengthen ties between the two communities while creating educational, cultural, and community opportunities for residents.
The park’s new name is intended to recognize the connections between Moorhead and Zakho and the role of cultural exchange in bringing communities together.
Moorhead and the Independent Administration of Zakho formalized their sister-city and friendship partnership on July 2, 2025, when Mayor Shelly Carlson and Guhdar Sheekhoo, head of the Independent Administration of Zakho, signed a Friendship Proclamation. The agreement aims to promote cultural exchange, education, and economic development between the two communities.