CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: January 18, 2021 Action Required: Approval of Resolution Presenter: Chris Gensic, Parks and Recreation Staff Contacts: Vic Garber, Interim Director, Parks and Recreation Chris Gensic, Parks and Recreation Title: Approval of names for newly acquired and developed parklands Background: The City of Charlottesville, through Parks and Recreation, has acquired a number of properties to expand the available of parks and recreational opportunities for the community. These new areas are in need of formal names. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is tasked with providing proposed names for new parkland to Council for consideration and approval. Discussion: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has received public input related to six new properties and has voted to forward proposed names for them to Council. The properties and proposed names are as follows 32 acres along Moores Creek near Azalea Park – Azalea Park West 20 acres along Moores Creek near Jordan Park and Avon Street – Mill Park 142 acres (+ 5 additional acres) adjacent to Ragged Mtn – Heyward Community Forest 8 acre addition to Northeast Park with rectangular field – Unity Field and Northeast Park 42 acres of land north of McIntire Park and Melbourne Road – Butterfly Greenway Pocket Park at corner of 8th and Albemarle near Westhaven – Jenkins Park Community Engagement: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board advertised in the local papers and media outlets and to solicit public input on names for the various properties. The written, phoned, and emailed input is transcribed in the attached document. There was also a number of public speakers at the March 12, 2020 Advisory Board meeting to provide input. For the two parks to be named for families, the families have been contacted and support the proposal to name the parks. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: This items aligns with the vision for a Smart, Citizen-Focused Government by allowing the public and citizen members of the Advisory Board to recommend naming options for Council to consider. Budgetary Impact: Approval of the new names will require funding to be spent on purchasing and installing new signs on the properties. Recommendation: Staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommends approval of the resolution Alternatives: Leave the new parklands unnamed or suggest new names not included in this report. Attachments: Park Naming Policy Maps of new parklands Jan 2020 Press Release for public input Summary of Public input – March 2020 August Summary of Naming to date with public input for 8th street Policy - Naming of Parks and Park Facilities As a general policy, parks shall be named in accordance with geographical, historical or ecological features indigenous to the park site or to the immediate vicinity of the site. Parks may be named for an individual under the following conditions: 1. Where the individual has made a significant gift of land for park purposes to the City, or 2. In memoriam for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the park system of the City of Charlottesville. 3. For an individual who has made a significant contributions to the quality of life in the community. Recreational facilities or resource management areas within a park may be named for an individual, living or deceased, who: 1. Has made a significant contribution to the protection of natural, cultural, or horticultural resources of the City’s park system; OR 2. Has substantially contributed to the advancement of commensurate types of recreational facilities and opportunities within the City’s park system; OR 3. Has made a significant contribution to the betterment of a specific park, consistent with the established criteria and standards for the designated park classification as identified in the Comprehensive Plan. In support of this policy, nominations for naming parks, recreational facilities or resource management areas shall be evaluated on the basis of the above criteria and upon appropriate documentation. Final action on naming of parks and facilities shall be made in open session by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; unless City Council or the City Manager supplies written notice that they would like the final say on the naming of a park or recreational facility. Adopted by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – May, 2010 Re-Adopted by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – April, 2017 www.charlottesville.org/parksandrec 32 acres along Moores Creek Near Azalea Park 20 acres along Moores Creek near Jordan Park 142 Acres adjacent to Ragged Mtn Reservoir 8 acres adjacent to Northeast Park with field 42 acres north of McIntire Park (JW Parkway) Pocket Park on 8th Street Near Westhaven PRESS RELEASE January 22, 2020 Contact: Chris Gensic – Parks Department – 970-3656 gensic@charlottesville.org Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to propose names for new park lands Over the past decade, the City of Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation has acquired a number of new parkland properties. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is in the process of proposing names for these new lands and is seeking public input before making a recommendation to City Council. As a general policy, parks shall be named in accordance with geographical, historical or ecological features indigenous to the park site or to the immediate vicinity of the site. Parks may be also be named for an individual under certain conditions. New parkland acquisitions to be considered for names at the March 12, 2020 Advisory Board meeting include: 1. 20 acre parcel along Moore’s Creek that is the location of the Hartman Mill remains 2. 142 acre parcel recently acquired adjacent to Ragged Mountain from the Heyward Family 3. Soccer field off Davis Avenue adjacent to Northeast Park 4. 49 acres of parkland north of Melbourne Road along John Warner Parkway 5. 30 acres of land across Old Lynchburg Road from Azalea Park The Policy for naming of parklands is available on request or at www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/boards-and-commissions/parks-and- recreation-advisory-board The Advisory Board March 12 meeting will be held at 501 East Main Street at 5:30pm. To submit a suggestion or comment, please contact Chris Gensic at 434-970-3656 or gensic@charlottesville.org or mail to/drop off at 501 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. Charlottesville Parks and Rec Advisory Board Park Naming Suggestions from request for public input January-March 2020 GENERAL IDEAS {Vicky Craw} was an anonymous donor to the city for trees, the flower beds, other beautification, and other needs. I just emailed you a Va resolution after her death explaining some of her contributions. Cole Hendrix and Gary O’Connell could tell you more about her anonymous donations. I would like to suggest her as a person for whom some city park or trail be named https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?041+ful+HJ347+pdf https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?041+ful+HJ347+pdf Via phone - Let’s use something other than people’s names, suggestion include: shady woods, evergreen, sunnyfield, robin, winding creek, cardinal, forsythia, liberty I read the Daily Progress article this month about the city's consideration of names for five parklands. I had initially wanted to make a suggestion when it was time to rename Lee and Jackson parks, the cause of so much controversy the past couple of years, but I missed the deadline. So I'd like to offer up the following names for use by the city in it's quest to come up with a moniker: • Heritage Park • Legacy Park I believe these are not offensive to any group or ideology and yet give a nod to Charlottesville's rich history -- good, bad or indifferent. 1. Moore's Creek Park, Mill Park 2. Heyward Park 3. Davis Field (I think it may have this name already?) 4 & 5. Sycamore Park, Poplar Park, Beechwood Park (after the American Beech tree) I would also suggest that Parks & Rec label mature trees, that are along paths, with their respective names so that pedestrians can learn about plant species and identification. Especially less common native species. Northeast Park adjacent athletic field Hello! My name is Karen Honeycutt. I grew up in the house that backs up to Davis Field, on North Ave. My husband and I have recently purchased it from my parents, and are raising our 2 daughters in it! My youngest literally runs out the back door and onto the field for her SOCA U10 practice every week! Who knew I’d end up in my childhood home? �🏻🏻♀ All of that said, my father, Coach Cy Weaver, as head coach of the Rock Hill Academy football team, helped build that field in the early 70s, transforming it from a goat lot into the playing field it remains today! He coached and mentored on that field, and played hard with his own kids out there, too. My two older brothers and I were so thrilled when SOCA started using that field, relieved that it wouldn’t be developed, and that our children would also be able to spend countless free spirited hours running and playing on “the Field” (which we still call it today). After Rock Hill, my father went on to teach, coach, and mentor at Lane High School, and then at CHS. He has coached every sport imaginable at some point in his career, I think! But he was most focused on Varsity Football and Basketball. He was current Black Knights head coach Mitch Minor’s head coach when Coach Minor was a player at CHS! My dad’s last teaching and mentoring adventure before retirement was teaching P.E. at Venable Elementary School, where he taught his eldest grandson. Throughout his career, he opened his heart and his home to all of his players, and to this day, we can’t go ANYWHERE without a former player or colleague bellowing “Coach Weaver” and telling all of us how much this man did for/meant to them. My DAD!!! A couple of years ago he had a heart attack, and with the wonderful care of the UVA Cardiac and Electrophysiology professionals, he has gone from literally heart stopped near death, to being able to exercise a little, run his farm, love his wife, children, and 8 grandkids, attend family’s performances, play with his chocolate lab, and attend EVERY CHS home football and basketball game (and even away games if they’re not too far away!) with his retired coaching buddies! We are thrilled that we still have him, and this would be such an amazing way to celebrate him! THE MOST encouraging, hard working, devoted person, father, and lifetime Charlottesville City School teacher and coach, deserves to have his name forever connected to such a special park in such a wonderful city. A park that he literally built with his own two hands. “Cy Weaver Park”. (Fun Fact: Darden Towe, of Darden Towe Park, lived on the opposite side of “the Field”, and our families were great friends! Mr. Towe used to dress as Santa and visit our house every Christmas Eve. Tiny me, the youngest of three, thought he was the real Santa for years!) I think Darden would smile from beyond at the idea of that epic field being called “Cy Weaver Park”. Thank you so much for considering this. It would mean everything to my dad. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I would like to nominate Coach Cy Weaver Sr. to have a park named after him. Northeast park? Coach Weaver has been a vital piece, an a figure to many kids and family in and around Charlottesville. He welcomed, coached and cares from people from multiple social economic backgrounds. He was a loyal city school teacher and coach for over 30 years. He is a friend to many and was forever grateful to see you in and around the community. He not only taught and worked in our community, but he also lived and served day in and out the people of our community. This would be a small token of appreciation to him and a great honor to share his name with our children And the positive impact he had on us , as we take them to play in these parks. Responding to the discussion about turning some areas into parks and requests for potential names. I would suggest that the area now called Davis Field, off North Ave., which is used by SOCA for games and practice, be named “Cy Weaver Park.” Mr. Weaver helped build that field and was a long-time sports/recreation institution in Charlottesville, coaching at Rock Hill, Lane, and Charlottesville High schools. He spent many hours coaching and mentoring kids on that field, and he was and still is much beloved by his many students and athletes. Thanks for your consideration. I am writing in support of Karen Honeycutt's suggestion to rename Davis Field after her father, Coach Cy Weaver. Sure there are many people in national politics, history, science, literature, education, and music for whom Davis Field might be named. Doesn't it make more sense to name it after a hometown Charlottesville hero who coached generations of Charlottesville kids on that very field? As his daughter, Karen Honeycutt, states in her letter below, Cy Weaver helped to build Davis Field and coached there for many years. In addition he taught and coached at Rock Hill Academy and all levels in the Charlottesville School System where he earned the respect of students, athletes, and parents in Charlottesville. We can honor Coach Weaver and all he has done for the youth of Charlottesville by naming Davis Field--the field he helped create--after him. Please consider naming the field Cy Weaver Park. I think that Davis Field should be named “Cy Weaver Park” after Cy Weaver who helped build it. I understand there is a consideration for designating Davis Field as a park, and asking for suggestions for names. I have a colleague who related a story about Coach Cy Weaver, and it seems most appropriate to name the new park the Cy Weaver Park. Thank you for your consideration. I vote to rename Davis Field "Cy Weaver Park". My husband and I live in River Run, near Pen Park. I sing in church choir with Tim and Karen Honeycutt, and Karen told me how much work her father, Cy Weaver, did for Sports in the Charlottesville area, and as a coach. He also created that field and coached there. I believe that Mr. Weaver deserves the recognition. Thanks to you and others who preserve parks in this area! My husband Merrill and I often hike down the trail behind our house to the river. He started the Rivanna Regatta Races many years ago, which now take place in May every year, and are sponsored by the Park District. I am writing to say that I believe the field should be named after Cy Weaver. The impact a good coach has on the lives of children cannot be measured and Coach Weaver deserves to be honored. The fact that he lived beside and actually built that field is part of the history of the neighborhood. Thanks for considering. As a Greenbrier to CHS graduate(’96) growing up in C’ville, I have had the pleasure to know the Weavers and they are a great, welcoming family. I was never coached by Cy Weaver, but sure wish I had that opportunity. This email is to request Davis Field to be renamed to Cy Weaver Field. I’m now a proud father of a 3 year old son who will attend Greenbrier to CHS and I hope he gets to play on that field throughout his childhood! I would like to suggest naming the park between North Avenue and Davis Avenue after Coach Cy Weaver, Sr. Cy has been a teacher, a mentor, a coach and an inspiration to children, young adults and his peers. I'm sure if you were to ask his students from the past and present, they would all agree! In addition to his love for teaching and giving of his time, he is a devoted husband, father, grandfather and one of a kind! Please consider this suggestion, and know it is with the most heartfelt request, that you know, Coach Cy Weaver is the most deserving of this! Cy Weaver was my coach for many many years. Such a great man and such great memories. When he sees me now he still calls me by my name after all these years. He taught me so so much, he never gave up on us and always said “don’t quite or you will never know how it feels to play” Love Coach Weaver. My name is John Hewlett and I grew up in Charlottesville, where my family still lives (Winston Road). My brother, sister and I were fortunate enough to attend Charlottesville High School and each had the privilege of being coached or mentored in some way by Cy Weaver. He is an incredible man who has positively impacted the lives of so many of us through his love of coaching and his commitment to being a positive role model for all. We strongly support the renaming of Davis Park in his honor. He has spent countless hours working and coaching on that field and it would be a fitting tribute. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I would like to vote to have the Davis field renamed to the Cy Weaver Park. Coach taught me a lot about life and is a great person. I often think about the days Coach was there to guide me in the right direction of life. God Bless Cy Weaver (coach). • * ***************************************************** I have attached to this email a PDF of some historical information about the Davis Field site and it's namesake, Robert Marhsall "Jack" Davis, and some other names that also might come up for the site, Enderly and Sheridan. My opinion is that Davis is not an appropriate name to move forward with for this site due to Davis's active participation in resisting desegregation of Charlottesville City School. I hope this information is helpful and my comments will be taken into consideration for the naming. **************************************************************************** You recently sought names for new parks. The park off Davis Ave that was acquired about ten years ago. I would like to propose that it be considered as one park i.e. as an extension of existing NE Park. There seems little reason to have two parks abutting each other with two names. I think “NE Park” is a very boring and not very useful name. I would propose “Harding Park” after Gene Harding who was a community leader for many years. He lived on Davis. His wife is now in declining health (I believe) and it could perhaps be a timely recognition. Thanks for your efforts in respect to that park. I recall you were involved in laying out the trail through it. Also, thanks for getting the bridge across NS tracks completed. That’s a great asset and took a lot of work (grants etc.) **************************************************************************** I understand the city is considering naming and re-naming several parks. I live on Davis Ave near "Davis Field". A bit of local history, which you already probably know: “Davis Field” field gets its named from the Davis family. Robert M. “Jack” Davis, Jr. served two terms as a member of Charlottesville City Council. He was elected in 1952 and 1956 and served as mayor in 1957. He declined to run again in 1960. In the late '60, Jack developed Maple Hill subdivision - on land which he and his siblings inherited from their father (who, I believe, purchased it from the Cole Family) - and the homes along Davis Ave and Marshall Street. Jack’s mother’s maiden name was Marshall – “Marshall Court” leads into the park from Davis Avenue. If named after a person, I might suggest calling it “Barbara Towe Park.” So while naming a place after someone can reward good civic behavior, as in the case of Darden Towe, Barbara’s husband, people's reputations now being constantly reassessed and since attitudes to people can change over time, I suggest the city stop labeling amenities such as buildings, parks and conference rooms for individuals. To that end, I would suggest a naming it Northwest Park and be done. ...or…maybe there is another option? - use naming rights to raise money for improving the park. Davis Field and the existing Northeast Park are connected by a city maintained trail and neither park has a toilet facility. Visitors with their small children are using as toilets - the trees, trails and the banks of St. Charles Creek. So, my suggestion might be to use the naming rights of the park to raise money for improvements. A paid naming-rights agreement* for the field might result in a restroom facility. After a certain amount of time the park could revert to “Northwest Park.” *According to Wikipedia: Naming rights are a financial transaction and form of advertising whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility or event, typically for a defined period of time. **************************************************************************** Mr. & Mrs. L. G. Harding Park - Harding Park for short Gene Harding was a longtime servant of the city, and his wife, Kathleen, 98(?), still lives across the street from the field. Mr. Harding served in the Navy in WWII, worked in Charlottesville law enforcement as City Sheriff and went on to serve as City Treasurer. He held public office for almost 50 years. Mrs. Harding has been a longtime volunteer with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad and is an amazing neighbor today. They built their house on Davis Avenue in the 60s and Mrs. Harding still lives there. We should honor this couple because of their service above self mentality and the commitment to the local neighborhood that naming it after them would represent. I think it is necessary and appropriate to name it after both of them as well. 142 acres next to Ragged Mtn I think we should honor the people who decide to donate land instead of selling to some construction company. They understand the need to not only protect our wildlife but to bring people back to nature. The Heywood Family Urban Wilderness Park *************************************************** Albemarle Garden Club members heartily support "Heyward Community Forest"! John Warner Parkway land I just saw the article abut the naming of the parks, and offer one for the John Warner Parkway park. Well before the parkway and the sewer replacement, I knew that land like the back of my hand. Many years ago, the ‘original’ Southern Railway wove through the area starting at Union Station and headed North, then continued behind the City Yard, then ran adjacent to Bodo’s and Allied Concrete, down to McIntire Road, and continuing North through McIntire Park. It continued to follow a route behind CHS football field, then ran above Meadow Creek to intersect at the present Norfolk Southern embankment/culvert at Meadow Creek. Eventually the railroad line was straightened out to follow its present route, and the old rail line was used as an industrial spur for businesses along Harris Street. I think that was in the 1930s. Later, it was mostly abandoned...maybe when the 250 bypass was created. Before the replacement sewer and parkway went in, there were still some old trestle foundations and concrete culverts along the line. At present, some of the original rail grade is being used as one of the trails, and the high embankment that approached Meadow Creek is still there, though deeper in the woods. I used to find rail spikes, lumps of cinders and coal, and in the bottom land, farmers had used old wooden railroad ties as fence and gate posts, and a bridge for farm equipment had been created using some of the steel rails. So...I am proposing the City name it ‘Southern Railway Park’ since a majority of it was the right of way. The Southern Railway Historical Society could provide more information about its history and confirm the dates I listed above. I had spoken to them 15 years ago about it. Hartman Mill property – Moores Creek I'd like to suggest a name for the new City park that includes a "20 acre parcel along Moore’s Creek that is the location of the Hartman Mill remains": Hartman Mill Park. I feel this name honors the remains of the old mill, as well as keeping its history, memory, and place in the community alive. I have attached to this email a PDF of some historical information about the site and it's namesake, Henry Hartman. My personal comment and opinion is that this is a unique site that should be named and developed in a manner consistent with it's history. Unlike many places in Charlottesville, the name is not representative of slavery or the Confederacy. I support the use of "Hartman's Mill" in the name for the park. It is likely that enslaved workers labored at the site, but this was prior to ownership by the Hartman family, and in this we have a unique opportunity to appropriately recognize the thousands of enslaved people who built and worked in and around Charlottesville, and I strongly believe we should take this opportunity. Further research that should be done includes: 1. Using the Albemarle deed books and other sources, establish a more precise timeline of ownership, particularly the period between when John Moore bought the site in 1764 and ownership by Henry Hartman no earlier than 1867. 2. Details on slave ownership or rental by site owners and the use of enslaved workers on the site 3. Jacob M. Hartman, Henry Hartman's son, would have been the right age (18 in 1862) to have fought in the Civil War, likely for the Union in a unit from Illinois. This line of inquiry has not been followed. I hope this information is helpful and my comments will be taken into consideration for the naming. Park Naming Update Parks and Recreation Advisory Board August 2021 The P&R Advisory Board voted in March 2021 on names for four new parklands in the system Todd Brown then asked the City Manager if council wished to have final vote on these names, which they do. The following names will be submitted to City Council for consideration. Azalea Park West - 30 acres across from Azalea Park Mill Park - Land off Avon Street near Jordan Park Heyward Community Forest – 150 acres of land below Ragged Mtn Reservoir Unity Field at Northeast Park – The property commonly known as “Davis Field” of Park Street. In July, the new park at 8th Street near Westhaven had its ribbon cutting. At that time a public outreach effort began to request possible names for the new park. The following list is the public input received to date. The P&R Board will vote in September 2021 on a new name for this park and then all 5 names will be forwarded to Council for consideration, most likely in October 2021. The policy on naming parks and recreation facilities is attached at the end of this document. 8th Street Park naming suggestions James T.S. Taylor Park https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/taylor-james-t-s-1840-1918/ __________________________________________________________________________________ Why not name the new park “George Floyd Memorial Park”? It would promote pride in our community. __________________________________________________________________________________ The new name for this Park can be a directionally pointed name so folks really know where you are developing for which neighbor. AvonPagepark ?? PageAvonPark? PageitPark? AvonRunPark? ( Pen Park is really a learned location ). AvonOnPagePark? FriendsPageAvonPark? CommunityPageandAvonPark? PublicpParkatPage and Avon? CentralPageAvonPark? CentralPark of Avon and Page? RoseBowlPagePark? FiggtreePagePark? Macaroni and CheesePagePark? GreenleavesPagePark? FreshAirPagePark? StrawHatPagePark? BlackEyePeasPagePark? BigToePagePark? SunshineShadyPark At Page? Green at Page and Avon Park? SUNFLOWERPAGEPARK? __________________________________________________________________________________ To Whom It May Concern! I am recommending naming the park after Hudson and Lucy Jenkins! African-Americans who once owned the land that the new city park is located. Please read below!! 10th and Page Street Resident The new City Park is located on land that was once owned by Hudson and Lucy Bullock Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins, a blacksmith, operated his livery stable on the land until it was destroyed by a fire in 1913. Mr. Jenkins who is buried at the Daughters of Zion Cemetery was a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization and served as the Receiver of Deposits for the Order of Calanthe that was established in Charlottesville in 1904. Mrs. Jenkins served as the first Worthy Counsellor (President) of the sister organization. To learn more, please see: https://daughtersofzioncemetery.org/the.../jenkins-hudson/ __________________________________________________________________________________ It would be wonderful if the new park at the corner of 8th Street and Hardy Drive could be named “Hudson Jenkins Park” after the man who owned that land and operated a livery stable there. I am pasting in a recent Facebook post by The Preservers of the Daughters of Zion Cemetery below. It contains information about Mr. Jenkins and includes a link to his page on The Daughters of Zion Cemetery website where you can see the location of Mr. Jenkins’ livery stable on a 1907 Charlottesville map, an ad for the stable from the 1898 Daily Progress, and more about Mr. Jenkins and his family. This new park is a great addition to the city. Thank you for all your good work advancing and improving Charlottesville’s parks and trails. __________________________________________________________________________________ I'd like to suggest naming the park after Holly Edwards - thank you __________________________________________________________________________________ Unity Park __________________________________________________________________________________ Promise Park (4 submissions for this name) __________________________________________________________________________________ Peace Square __________________________________________________________________________________ I saw the story on NBC29 and wanted to share a park name idea: "Holly's Corner." It just popped into my head when they were saying there wasn't a name and what the park was all about. I think about Holly Edward's work in that community and specifically right across the street at the Clinic. __________________________________________________________________________________ Freedom Park Clover Park __________________________________________________________________________________ Hello! My 6 year old daughter saw the news and thought that the new park should be named "picnic park place". We live in housing but over 6th Street. I think that this is a wonderful park. Thank you and have a great day! __________________________________________________________________________________ Name the park after a great Charlottesvillian, Eugene Williams. __________________________________________________________________________________ I respectfully submit the suggestion of "LeRoi Holloway Moore Memorial Park." The late LeRoi Moore, you may recall, was a Charlottesville saxophonist and founding member of the Dave Matthews Band. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeRoi_Moore __________________________________________________________________________________ I'm the chair of the City's Historic Resources Committee, and I just wanted to offer us up as a resource for analysis or vetting of possible names for the Hardy/8th St park. __________________________________________________________________________________ I saw that you were taking suggestions for a renaming of a park, and my idea was to name it after Revolutionary war hero James Armistead Lafayette. James Armistead was an ex-slave, and served as a double agent against the British under the avowedly anti-slavery Lafayette. He later renamed himself James Armistead Lafayette in the general's honor. He truly is an unsung hero of Virginian history. In order to avoid confusion with Marquis de Lafayette, I would suggest naming it James Armistead Park or Armistead Park. It's educational, historical, and inclusive which would be nice step forward now that the statues are coming down. A plaque could be erected to commemorate his life and work in aiding the American Revolution. Please look him up online and let me know what you think! UPDATE: Upon later review, it might be better to name it James Lafayette Park, since Armistead is both a Confederate general's name and the slave name that James was given, after his owner William Armistead. __________________________________________________________________________________ I would like to suggest naming the park after John West. The same gentleman West St is named after. __________________________________________________________________________________ I would like to submit a name for the new park: ‘The Holly Edwards Community Park’ I worked with Holly for many years when she worked at the School of Nursing and while she was a student before her passing. As you may know, Holly worked at the Westhaven Clinic and was a very big part of the clinic within the community. Thank you for this opportunity, __________________________________________________________________________________ Rudolph P. Carey Sr. Longtime worker at the Westhaven Recreation Center. Great support for this Community. __________________________________________________________________________________ Holly Edwards Park Joy Johnson Park (via text) __________________________________________________________________________________ The park on 10th and Page should be named after Josephine Lightfoot Whitsett, a local black guidance counselor at schools including but not limited to CHS and others, lifetime member of Ebeneezer Baptist church, member of the one and only Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, NAACP member, member of the Charlottesville Eastern Star, mother, and the greatest grandmother in the world that lived at 805 Page Street the entirety of her life. A UVA Graduate, Josephine shaped and molded many lives during a time where black children (still) are looked at as subhuman. Thank you, __________________________________________________________________________________ It has come to my attention that there is a new park in the neighborhood that i would often frequent. This area which was predominately black because families were forced out of Vinegar Hill (Downtown Mall) by dismantling their homes, businesses, gathering places and left Black families isolated and alienated with no option to vote on their own homes destruction because of a POLL TAX so they say. I can attest that that space was once owned by a person of color and to name anything else other than would be yet another slap in the face. There are many prominent people of color in this area but there is one that comes to mind and that is MRS. REBECCA MCGINNIS WHO LIVED TO BE 106 AND EDUCATED MANY IN HER DAY. st would like to see in all my years here __________________________________________________________________________________ Another suggestion: John Gaines, a local educator and activist who lives in that neighborhood __________________________________________________________________________________ I’d like to nominate the Park on 10th and Page to be called Josephine Whitsett Park. Mrs. Whitsett played such a positive role in the lives of black and brown students as a guidance counselor for the city school system. She was invested in her church, Ebeneezer Baptist Church, an Eastern Star, member of the NAACP, and much more. What is most important though, is that she was a resident of the 10th and Page neighborhood her entire life, thus her contributions being able to directly affect that neighborhood as well. Please consider this name as it is so important to memorialize those who have played a positive role in the City of Charlottesville. __________________________________________________________________________________ I wanted to make sure Holly Edwards was on the list of possible park names, given her contributions to city govt and work at Westhaven. __________________________________________________________________________________ The new park should be named after Holly Edwards. __________________________________________________________________________________ IN HONOR OF ONE OF MANY INSTRUMENTAL PEOPLE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE THIS SPACE TO EITHER HAVE THE NAME OF WHICH THE PROPERTY WAS FIRST OWNED WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A PERSON OF COLOR OR PREFERABLY MCGINNESS PARK. MRS. REBECCA FULLER MCGINNESS WAS AN EDUCATOR OF MANY AT THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL. __________________________________________________________________________________ No names should be used for the park – and West Haven is named after John West. Perhaps West Haven could be changed to HAVEN also.since this is already a neighborhood name. __________________________________________________________________________________ Is the city still considering a name for the new park? Could it possibly be named in honor of Charles Barbour, who was mayor of Charlottesville from 1970 to 1978. Although I don't think he was involved with the park system, he certainly contributed to the well-being of Charlottesville through his support of the downtown mall. Although the cvillepedia article is rather brief, others in the city government might have more information about Charles' contributions. https://www.cvillepedia.org/Charles_Barbour __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ POLICY– NAMING OF PARKS AND PARK FACILITIES Effective Date: July 26, 2018 PURPOSE To provide guidance regarding the naming of City Parks, Park Facilities, Recreational Facilities and Resource Management Areas. POLICY STATEMENT Final action on naming of parks and facilities shall be made in open session by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; unless City Council or the City Manager supplies written notice that they would like the final say on the naming of a park or recreational facility. DEFINITIONS Parks Lands owned either wholly or in part by the City of Charlottesville and designated as City Parks. Park Facilities Facilities located within Parks used for general usage, or specifically for certain recreational activities. Recreational Facilities Specific recreational facilities located within Parks; or owned either wholly or in part by the City of Charlottesville which may not be located in a Park and managed by the Parks and Recreation Department; or leased by the City of Charlottesville for use as a recreational facility by the community. Resource Management Areas Specific resource management areas located within Parks, or within land owned either wholly or in part by the City of Charlottesville. PROCEDURES As a general policy, parks shall be named in accordance with geographical, historical or ecological features indigenous to the park site or to the immediate vicinity of the site. Parks may be named for an individual under the following conditions: 1. Where the individual has made a significant gift of land for park purposes to the City, or 2. In memoriam for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the park system of the City of Charlottesville. 3. For an individual who has made a significant contributions to the quality of life in the community. Recreational facilities or resource management areas within a park may be named for an individual, living or deceased, who: 1. Has made a significant contribution to the protection of natural, cultural, or horticultural resources of the City’s park system; OR 2. Has substantially contributed to the advancement of commensurate types of recreational facilities and opportunities within the City’s park system; OR 3. Has made a significant contribution to the betterment of a specific park, consistent with the established criteria and standards for the designated park classification as identified in the Comprehensive Plan. In support of this policy, nominations for naming parks, recreational facilities or resource management areas shall be evaluated on the basis of the above criteria and upon appropriate documentation. Nominations for Naming may be submitted by Staff, City Council or citizens of the community. APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 – Existing Policy Adopted by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, April 2017 Signature Date Director, Parks and Recreation Parks and Recreation Policy Document Established: July 26, 2018 Policy Revised by Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: April, 2017 Policy Established by Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: May, 2010