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Dade City debate over new park name pits 'Veterans Park' supporters against calls for 'Patriot Park'
Summary
The commission heard multiple public speakers and community groups on whether the city's new splash-pad site should be named Veterans Park or Patriot Park; commissioners discussed reopening the naming decision to a broader public process and asked staff and counsel to prepare a resolution for the next meeting.
A naming dispute over the city’s new splash-pad site drew a large public turnout at the March 11 Dade City Commission meeting, with speakers and community groups urging the commission either to keep the name Veterans Park or to rename the site Patriot Park to be more inclusive.
Several residents and business owners spoke during public comment, citing different reasons for their preferred name. Kevin Taggerty, a downtown business promoter, told the commission he had spoken with community members who favored "Patriot Park" because the name, he said, would be "inclusive — not only veterans, but everybody who's here in our community." Several speakers, including Lucy Avila and Robert (Brother) Joseph Avila, suggested veterans might be better honored at a larger or different site more suited to solemn memorials.
Other speakers, including members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, voiced support for honoring Vietnam Veterans specifically; Marie Wunderlich spoke for the DAR and said the group would participate in celebrations regardless of the park name.
Mayor Pro Tem Angel Woodard and Commissioner comments reflected the divide. Woodard said the community should be included and urged a formal process if the commission reconsiders the previously adopted name. Commissioner Shive argued that if the commission reopens the decision it should do so publicly — posting options and allowing residents to submit or vote on names — and warned against letting a small group of downtown stakeholders determine the outcome.
City attorney Patrick Brackens said a formal resolution renaming the park was not on the agenda that night but that his office would prepare one for the April meeting. Several commissioners asked staff to collect the public-input data and to make the naming question transparent to residents.
Ending: Commissioners signaled they will consider a formal resolution on park naming at the April meeting and asked staff to compile the survey data and options for a public process. The splash pad itself remained out of service at the meeting as repairs continued.
