Accept the recommendation of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee meeting on March 7, 2022, for the Commission to decide on a name for 500-700 Alton Road Park, considering the names “Sunset Park” and “Gateway Park”, at the April 6, 2022 Commission meeting; setting a Public Hearing on May 4, 2022, pursuant to Section 82-503(a)(8) of the City Code; and directing the City Clerk to publish the appropriate public notice.

During the May 12, 2021 City Commission meeting, Commission referred a discussion regarding the naming of the 500-700 Alton Road Park to the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (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 Public Safety and Neighborhood 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 Public Safety and Neighborhood 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

   

  This also included a write-in option. (Exhibit C)

The online voting survey opened on December 27, 2021 and closed on January 24, 2022. A total of 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)

At the March 7, 2022 Public Safety Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (formerly named the Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee) motioned to have the full Commission consider “Sunset Park” and “Gateway Park”  as potential names for the 500-700 Alton Road Park.

“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.”

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.