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Lake City council agrees to youth naming contest and sponsorship package for Youngs Park splash pad
Summary
Council members backed a plan to ask elementary schools within the city limits to submit a name and instructed administration to develop a tiered sponsorship package for the new splash pad; proceeds will be earmarked for youth engagement and gun-violence prevention programs.
The council discussed how to name and fund a splash pad at Youngs Park and agreed on two actions: solicit one name from each elementary school within city limits for a student naming contest, and ask administration to draft a sponsorship package to generate revenue for youth programming.
Mayor Walker described a tiered sponsorship model that could allow 1-, 3- or 5-year naming rights that would funnel money into a youth engagement fund specifically earmarked for youth initiatives and gun-violence-prevention work. Vice Mayor Young and Councilwoman Harris said the park should retain a stable place name — Youngs Park — while the splash pad itself could carry separate recognition or sponsor signage.
Councilmember Jernigan and others suggested multi-year sponsorship terms (three to five years) rather than annual rotating names so that the community retains continuity. The council agreed the naming contest should be limited to public and charter elementary schools located inside the city limits and asked staff to include school participation details (e.g., single classroom submissions by fifth grade) in the implementation plan.
Next steps: Administration will prepare a sponsorship package and timeline for the naming contest; the council signaled consensus to proceed and requested that sponsorship proceeds be held for youth engagement and violence-prevention programs.
