BRADENTON BEACH – The park across the street from city hall, referred to only as City Park, will be renamed after longtime City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh.
The discussion of the naming of the beach access park just south of the Beach House parking lot was introduced at the March 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting by Mayor John Chappie.
“I put this item on the agenda, I also have it on the agenda for tomorrow’s city commission meeting,” Chappie said.
The impetus behind naming the park was the need to include it as a named park on a soon-to-be-released bicycle map.
“The Scenic Highway WAVES committee is developing a bike map, a scenic bike map and they are requesting that we officially name the city park, or come up with a name for that area,” Chappie said.
The printing of the bike map is going to be done by the AMI Moose Lodge. Chappie said the map is being produced along with a booklet called, “Your Guide to the Legacy Trail Sarasota and the Gulf Islands” at no cost to the city.
“The other cities have done the same thing, they have theirs ready and they’re about ready to go to print on this one,” Chappie said. “They would just like us to make a decision so that name could be on that actual map.”
City Attorney Ricinda Perry said it was a city commission responsibility to name a park.
“So, again I have it on tomorrow’s commission meeting agenda,” Chappie said. “I would like to see a nice name on the park, it’s the way we honor people once in a while. I’d like to have it called Jan’s Park or Jan Vosburgh Park. That would be my vote.”
“She’s been involved with a number of elected officials and mayors over the years and that alone is worth a Purple Heart,” Chappie added jokingly.
“I think it’s a great thought,” CRA member Ralph Cole said.
The CRA renaming recommendation was brought up at the March 7 commission meeting, and the commission voted unanimously to rename the area Jan Vosburgh Park.
“I’m really delighted,” Vosburgh said. “Thank you.”
Commission members included Chappie, Cole and Vosburgh. Commissioner Marilyn Maro telephoned into the meeting.
