Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Action
Item Title:
title
Renaming of Magruder Park to David C. Driskell Community Park
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council authorize the City Attorney to draft a resolution renaming Magruder Park as David C. Driskell Community Park and to draft a corresponding ordinance updating references to Magruder Park in the City Code to reflect the new name. I further move the Council authorize the City Administrator to assess and proceed with signage needs for the park renaming.
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Summary Background:
The City Council passed a motion on March 18th, 2019 that:
a) Authorized the City Attorney to investigate the feasibility of, and legal requirements for, changing the name of Magruder Park.
b) Authorized the City Attorney to investigate the feasibility of, and legal requirements for, updating the deed to exclude the offensive language as defined in the motion summary background details and effectively remove any restrictions on use of the public amenity that would be considered discriminatory as defined by the Hyattsville Human Rights Act.
c) Directed the City Administrator to assist the City Council by preparing recommendations, based on the tools available to the City of Hyattsville, to encourage a public engagement process.
The City Attorney worked with outside counsel to prepare and record in the land records a deed, and other required documentation, that removes the discriminatory language contained in the original Park conveyance.
With the completion of parts a) and b), the staff proceeded to engage the community in the process to select a name for the park that is welcoming, inclusive, and unifying. In Fall of 2020, City staff launched a campaign designed to collect suggestions for the renaming of Magruder Park. Over 800 submissions were received. The Race and Equity Task Force and Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee met jointly t...
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