The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform the Mayor and Commission of the park naming online survey results for the new park on Alton Road.

During the May 12, 2021 City Commission meeting, a referral to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee was made to hold a discussion regarding the naming of the 500-700 Alton Road Park. (Exhibit A)

In preparation for the opening of the park, the West Avenue Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Association (“WAvNA”) met and provided the following naming suggestions for the park, Gateway Park or South Beach Gateway Park, South Shore Park, Sunset Park, Tequesta Park, and West Avenue Park or West Bay Park.

Additionally, during the January 10, 2019 Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board meeting, a motion was passed recommending that the new 500-700 Alton Road Park, at our City's primary entrance, be named “Unity Park.” (Exhibit B)

At the September 20, 2021 Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee meeting, the Committee recommended engaging with the community via a poll to vote on a park name. The following six names were determined by the Committee to be considered: Gateway Park, South Beach Gateway Park, South Shore Park, Sunset Park, West Avenue Park and Unity Park.

During the December 8, 2021 City Commission meeting, Resolution No. 2021-31937 was passed accepting the recommendation of the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee, at its September 20, 2021 meeting, authorizing the Administration to engage the community through online voting for the selection of park name for the future 500-700 Alton Road Park. The final names included:

• Gateway Park

• South Beach Gateway Park

• South Shore Park

• Sunset Park

• West Avenue Park

• Canopy Park

• Unity Park

   

  A write-in option would also be included. (Exhibit C)

The online voting survey opened on December 27, 2021 and closed on January 24, 2022. 1,946 votes were cast. Below are the top 10 park names:

LTC 035-2022 was distributed on January 28, 2022 with the above information. (Exhibit D)

“Sunset Park” is the park name with the highest number of votes. The naming requires referendum approval, as it does not within the exceptions enumerated under City Code Section 82-503(a)(8):

“The referendum requirements shall not apply to a public facility that is to be named or renamed solely for the name of the city, the geographic area or physical location of the facility and/or the street or portion of the street where the facility is located, the function of the facility, or the current name of the facility.”

If the Committee makes a positive recommendation to the full Commission, a Resolution accepting NQLC’s recommendation will be placed on the April 6, 2022 City Commission agenda. It will also set a public hearing for the May 4, 2022 City Commission meeting to approve the naming and call for a Special Election.

The Special Election must be approved by the May 4, 2022 City Commission meeting to appear as a ballot question during the August 23, 2022 election.