Rochester business owner jokes about Trump's Lake Ontario rename as city council opposes
A Rochester indoor playground owner mocked President Trump's order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America," while the city council voted to retain the historic name.
A Rochester entrepreneur whose indoor playground is named Ontario Play & Cafe said he is joking about President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America." The business, which has hosted thousands of birthday parties over its 11-year history, posted an Instagram reel questioning the cost of new signage and affirmed the name will not change.
The order directs the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the federal geographic naming system. Rochester City Council responded by unanimously adopting a proclamation that the city will continue using "Lake Ontario" in all official capacities, and Council President Miguel Meléndez said he will introduce a resolution urging the administration to reverse the decision.
Meléndez noted that residents view the rename as a distraction compared with concerns such as utility costs, housing, groceries and international conflicts. Canadian officials also dismissed the change, pointing out that the lake’s name predates both countries.