December 9, 2016
Dear Mira Mesa Community
I would like to ask for your support on a very important issue in our community of naming and renaming of our community parks.
Background:
In March and April 2016 meeting of the Mira Mesa Recreation Council (MMRC), actions were taken to approve renaming of the following parks after (2) Mira Mesa community leaders and who are also sitting members of the Mira Mesa Recreation Council :
1. Walker Park will be renamed JULIUS HITCHENS PARK after it is merged with the expanded & renovated Wagenheim playing fields.
2. Maddox Park will be renamed STEVENS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK after it is merged with the new Salk School park site.
After careful consideration, the Mira Mesa Recreation Council is revisiting its action by inviting Mira Mesa residents to participate in the process by giving input on whether or not name changes are necessary or renaming or naming of the parks following Park and Recreation Board Policy #1001 as follows:
No. 1001 (Revised 11115/01)
PARK AND RECREATION BOARD POLICY
SUBJECT: Naming of Parks and Recreation Facilities
BACKGROUND: The public sometimes suggests that parks and recreation facilities be named after persons, living or dead.
PURPOSE: To provide a systematic procedure for the naming of parks and recreation facilities which will assist in their location by the
citizenry, and to develop a method for the retention of names of
historical or fiscal significance.
POLICY: As a general policy, parks and recreation facilities should be named to identify their locations. Especially for parks, the name of the
community area, the names of nearby geographic features, the
names of adjacent schools and street names should be given first
consideration. However, they may also be named for individuals,
living or dead, who are of historical significance to the local area or
who have made major financial contributions in the opinion of the
appropriate. Recreation Councils and/or other advisory bodies,
Board committees and the full Board. Facilities within parks,
(such as buildings, gyms, courts, .etc.) are more appropriate for
naming after individuals than are parks.
Renaming a facility for a person, when that facility is already
named for a person, should only be undertaken with the utmost
consideration. Every attempt should be made to contact the person
or heirs of the person for whom the facility is currently named, to
present their views verbally, or in writing, at a public hearing.
PROCEDURE: The Recreation Council effected by the proposed name change, shall hold a public hearing to review the request and the supporting documents and information, and shall make recommendations to the Area Committees and the Park and Recreation Board on any and all recommended changes to the renaming of existing facilities.
How can you help?
Based on the Park and Recreation Board Policy, please print and complete the survey form, and drop it off at either the December 2016 or January 2016 Mira Mesa Recreation Council meeting:
PARKS NAME SUGGESTIONS
Park #1
A new park is to be built by seamlessly merging the
existing Maddox Park with the undeveloped property
behind Salk School. This new park will include
restrooms and off-street parking as well as shaded
areas in addition to the existing amenities.
A suggested name for this new park is;
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Park #2
A new park is to built by seamlessly merging the
A new park is to built by seamlessly merging the
existing Walker Park with the partially developed
Wangenheim Fields. This new park will include
restrooms, off-street parking, playground shade and a
new vehicle entrance from Flanders Drive in addition
to the existing amenities.
A suggested name for this new park is;
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