October 22, 2024
City Council
DATE: October 22, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Doria Robinson
Subject:
Rename Virginia Playlot to Floria Evans Park
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $500 for materials and labor is included in Public Works Signs Division budget, General Fund account 01234531-
400361. Public Works recommends that the cost
recovery efforts be waived for the applicant because the signage updates for the park are overdue.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
October 1, 2024 – Adopted a Resolution of Intent to
rename the Virginia Playlot to Floria Evans Park to
commemorate Ms. Evans’ longstanding dedication to the
neighborhood.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Recreation and Parks Commission approved a
request at the June 5, 2024, meeting to recommend
renaming the Virginia Playlot to Floria Evans Park to
commemorate Ms. Evans’ longstanding dedication to the
neighborhood.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
HOLD a public hearing to rename Virginia Playlot to
Floria Evans Park and waive cost recovery fees –
Councilmember Doria Robinson (510-620-6568).
AGENDA
REPORT
October 22, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The family of Mrs. Evans submitted an application to the Recreation and Parks Commission on April 2, 2024, to change the name of the Virginia Playlot to Floria Evans Park.
Mrs. Evans is a neighborhood hero who helped to raise and care for dozens of children who have grown up in that neighborhood. She was a mentor and a neighborhood icon.
Her home is adjacent to the park, and she has resided there for 65 years.
The application inquires if the nominee has ever received recognition on a local, national or international level which would bring honor to the City of Richmond. The City Clerk’s Office does not have record of local recognition of Mrs. Evans. However, I believe she is more of a hometown hero who anchored the neighborhood for more than half of a century. My thought was that not every hero needs to do things on a national or state level to be important and transformative for the community.
Even though a petition in support of the name change was not submitted, the Coronado Neighborhood Council has provided a letter in support of the name change. There is one letter on file in opposition to the requested name change.
The park is located at South 18th Street at Virginia Avenue. A google map of the area is attached.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution of Intention
Attachment 2 – Redacted Application for a Park Name Change Attachment 3 – Map of Park Location
Attachment 4 – Notice of Public Hearing