Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Trails topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brevard names Bracken Preserve trails for Bailey family after historicity concerns
Summary
Following research that failed to corroborate a local oral history, the council approved naming two new Bracken Preserve segments the 'Bailey Connector' and 'Bailey Loop' to honor documented early settler families.
The Brevard City Council on April 20 named two new trails in the Bracken Preserve the Bailey Connector and Bailey Loop after staff and committee review.
Staff and the Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee had recommended 'Laughing Water Connector' and 'Laughing Water Loop' based on an oral history sign on the site, but local historian Laura Sperry told staff she could not find corroborating primary sources for that narrative. Assistant Planning Director Aaron Bland told the council the committee had requested deeper research and the historian reported "she can find no corroborating evidence" for the Laughing Water story.
Council chose to honor documented settlers instead. "Given that we know families like the Bailey family are recorded and documented to have settled this area, honoring them is the right way to do this," Councilman Erin Baker said. The council voted to adopt the Bailey names.
What happens next: staff will update trail maps and interpretive signage to reflect the adopted names and pursue any additional historical research if new primary sources emerge.
