Subject:
Title
Request approval to rename Northside Park to Northside Park - Maud Robinson Wildlife Preserve.
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
Mayor DiRocco has made a recommendation to the Parks & Recreation Director that Northside Park be renamed to Northside Park - Maud Robinson Wildlife Preserve in honor of the late Maud Robinson. The name and memory of Maud Robinson should be preserved in the Town of Vienna for future generations.
Maud Robinson was an outstanding civic servant to the Town of Vienna. She was known as a legendary Vienna community leader. Ms. Robinson served on Town Council from 2000-2009. She also served on the Town’s Board of Architectural Review, Town/Business Liaison Committee, and board of directors of Historic Vienna, Inc. among many other community activities. Councilmember Robinson helped craft the ordinance that preserved Northside Park in its natural state. She voted to rezone Northside Park to the Park and Conservation Zone in 2009. Councilmember Robinson noted that Northside Park is an unusual oasis in the middle of densely suburban Fairfax County and an absolute jewel within the Town of Vienna.
The North East Vienna Citizens Association (NEVCA) considered the renaming at its November 21, 2019 meeting, and the members present unanimously passed the motion to support renaming Northside Park to Northside Park - Maud Robinson Wildlife Preserve.
NEVCA President Bob McCahill referred to Maud Robinson's remarks regarding Northside Park made at an October 2008 Planning Commission public hearing: “Mrs. Robinson said that she grew up in the Connecticut countryside and had fields and woods and ponds, etc. And from that experience said if you expose children to a natural unstructured environment when they are young it gives them a respect, an affection, a reverence for land that they do not absorb in front of the computer, television, etc. Mrs. Robinson said the governor of Virginia and the chairman of the Board of Supervisors have urged conservation of open land. Mrs. Robinson said this site is 26 acres of prime untouched woodland and is in the Difficult Run watershed.”
Departmental Recommendation: Recommend renaming Northside Park to Northside Park - Maud Robinson Wildlife Preserve.
Finance Recommendation: N/A
Purchasing Recommendation: N/A
Town Attorney Recommendation: Town Council may name or rename a park in its discretion.
Town Manager's Recommendation: The Town Council may name or rename a park in its discretion, to include the name in the motion or any other name like, nature preserve or something similar.
Cost and Financing: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Decision Needed by This date: December 9, 2019
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to rename Northside Park to Northside Park - Maud Robinson Wildlife Preserve."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.