ATTACHMENT 1
CITY OF BURBANK
NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES APPLICATION
Official Use Only
Issued by
Date
Applicant Name Parks and Recreation Board
Applicant Address 150 North Third Street, Burbank
Applicant Telephone (818) 238-5300
Types of facilities to be included for consideration for dedication, naming or renaming may include any public structure, building, park, park feature, reservoir, overpass, street, wall, mural, plant, lawn or garden, historical document, plaque, or statue. Facilities to be excluded from consideration for dedication, naming or renaming shall include Veterans’ Memorials, City Hall and facilities under the jurisdiction of another governing body. All information will be verified.
1. Name of Nominee Mary Alvord
2. Residence of Nominee (current or last if deceased) Burbank, CA
3. Proposed Facility to be Named Current Name: Verdugo Recreation Center; Re-Name: Mary Alvord Recreation Center
4. Date(s) of Nominee’s Significant Contribution 1970-2009 (career)
5. Name(s) of Recipient of Contribution(s) Burbank Community
6. Describe the measurable impact of contributions on Burbank and on humanity.
Mary Alvord is a lifelong resident of the City of Burbank and had a career working for the City of Burbank which spanned 38 years. She began her career in 1970 as a Junior Recreation Leader in the P&R Department and rose through the ranks. In 1991, she was appointed to the position of P&R Director and held this position for ten years.
From 2000 to 2003, Ms. Alvord served as the Assistant City Manager and in 2003 by a unanimous vote of City Council, she was named the City Manager. Ms. Alvord was the first woman to hold the position of City Manager in Burbank’s history. In February 2009, Ms. Alvord retired from the City of Burbank, but remains active by serving on the Board of Directors for the Family Service Agency and facilitates the Leadership Burbank Program.
7. Give a statement of qualifications of nominee in relation to listed criteria.
Under her leadership in the Parks and Recreation Department, Ms. Alvord oversaw several capital improvement projects. These include: the construction of Burbank Tennis Center, hockey rink at Ralph Foy Park, Maple Street Playground, Earthwalk Park, and Valley Park Skate Park and the renovations of George Izay (Olive) Park ballfield, Burbank Center Stage, (Betsy Lueke) Creative Arts Center, Starlight Bowl, McCambridge Park, Joslyn Adult Center addition, Robert Gross Park, Providencia Elementary School Soccer Field and Playground improvements, and Stough Canyon Nature Center.
Continually recognized for her dedication to public service and her commitment to the Burbank community, Ms. Alvord was inducted in the “Burbank Athletics Walk of Fame” (2007), awarded the Boys and Girls Club’s “Golden Achievement Award”, named “Woman of the Year” by State Senator Jack Scott (2004) and the Zonta Club (2007), received the Burbank T emporary Aid Center’s “Top Award for Citizenship”, honored by Woodbury University with the “Movers and Shapers Award”, and bestowed the Family Service Agency’s “Woman of Vision Award” (2007).
8. Attach any references
None