A contest was held to name this park in 1971, and the late Harry E. Gatling was chosen for the honor. 

A native of Bearden, Gatling moved to Conway with his family and graduated from Conway High School in 1930 and then from Hendrix College. 

Gatling joined the Conway school system in 1937 as a teacher at the former Central Grade School.  He later taught Spanish and mathematics at the high school.  He then served as principal at the junior high before becoming the first principal of the newly opened Sallie Cone Elementary in 1956.  Gatling suffered a heart attack in 1967 and passed away at the age of 55.