Flynn kept city’s marine industrial park afloat

Any name is better than the Boston Marine Industrial Park.

So a proposal to change it to “The Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park” is a definite upgrade and an appropriate tribute to the former mayor’s vision for the waterfront.

Growing up in South Boston, Flynn knew it as a busy working port. Flynn, his father, and brother all labored on the docks and belonged to the International Longshoreman’s Association.

When Flynn became mayor in 1984, the marine industry was slipping away. His administration started working up plans to revitalize the area. The debate over development pitted container ships, warehouses, and freight yards against revenue-producing condos, hotels, and office buildings. Today, we know who won the argument. But thanks to Flynn, one swath remains true to Boston’s gritty history.

In a letter to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and others who back the name change note that the area “blossomed from a nearly abandoned site to a robust industrial park providing thousands of jobs and an anchor for the marine industry on Boston’s waterfront.”

A caveat: The letter from Walsh to the BRA “wholeheartedly” endorses the “recommendations” made by The Raymond L. Flynn Commission, which was set up to determine “a proper dedication” to Flynn. Besides the name change, the commission report also calls for creation of the Raymond L. Flynn Visitor Center, which would feature “a permanent exhibition,” and an area dedicated to Flynn’s “pivotal role in expanding opportunity and in healing racial divisions.” No price tag is included, and that should be fully vetted before the BRA signs on to any dedication. A name change is fine. Anything else should be privately funded.

Flynn was elected to a third term in 1991, but resigned to become the US ambassador to the Vatican. Since then, his legacy has been overlooked. He did a lot to heal racial tensions in a city once defined by them. He also linked development to affordable housing. His predecessor, Kevin H. White, is remembered for revitalizing downtown and Quincy Market. His successor, Thomas M. Menino, is credited with carving out a new glitzy Boston out of the old, crumbling seaport. But Flynn’s legacy isn’t about building glitz. It’s about building bridges between neighborhoods, as the commission’s report states. And, it’s about believing in people who work with their hands.

“That’s who I am. That’s where I came from,” said Flynn.

Renaming a humble industrial park in his honor would be true to Boston and to Flynn.

Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @Joan_Vennochi.