Title
Resolution to Rename Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve the renaming of Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park in honor of Ann Arbor's Bicentennial in 2024.
As part of the City's Bicentennial celebration in 2024, the renaming and reinvestment in a park as Bicentennial Park was identified as a significant component of the celebration to ensure a lasting remembrance of the event. After much deliberation about potential park candidates for renaming, Southeast Area Park was identified as the preferred option to become Bicentennial Park from a group of Park staff, other City staff, and City Council. This resulted in City Council Resolution R-23-161, which directed the City Administrator to pursue all reasonable efforts to designate Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park. Southeast Area Park was the preferred option for several reasons, including its location along two major roadways on the southeast border of the city, its proximity to public transit, and its ability to reach traditionally underserved populations. This will allow Bicentennial Park to serve as a highly visible, welcoming, and inclusive gateway into the City of Ann Arbor.
In addition to the renaming of the park, City staff have identified several additional programmatic and infrastructure amenities that would benefit the community and transform the park into a premier recreation destination. This resolution continues to emphasize the part of Resolution R-23-161 that resolves the City Council and the City Administrator pursue all reasonable efforts to fundraise private dollars to create and sustain improvements to Southeast Area Park from this point forward.
PAC unanimously recommended the renaming of Southeast Area Park as Bicentennial Park at the July 18, 2023 meeting.
Staff
Prepared by: Josh Landefeld, Parks & Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator...
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