1 1Introduced by the Council Member Yarborough: 2 3

4 ORDINANCE 2008-675 5 AN ORDINANCE NAMING THE FORT CAROLINE 6 PLAYGROUND FOR GERALDINE “GERRIE” DAWKINS 7 ATKINSON TO BE KNOWN AS “GERRIE’S PARK”; 8 WAIVING 122.102 OF THE ORDINANCE CODE, 9 CONCERNING NAMING PUBLIC FACILITIES AFTER 10 LIVING INDIVIDUALS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE 11 DATE. 12

13 WHEREAS, Geraldine “Gerrie” Dawkins Atkinson is a long-time 14member of the Jacksonville community, being among the first 15residents of Fort Caroline Club Estates, and she is a retired 16employee of the City of Jacksonville Public Library System whose 17career was dedicated to serving others, especially the younger 18members of our City; and 19 WHEREAS, Gerrie Atkinson is a model citizen and active 20participant in furthering the cause of good governance, and she is 21notable for her estimable work with the Greater Arlington Civic 22Council, especially relative to zoning and recreation issues; and 23 WHEREAS, Gerrie Atkinson is well-known in the Fort Caroline 24Club Estates community as a vocal proponent for maintaining and 25enhancing the tree canopy and for her gracious but determined 26advocacy in support of neighborhood parks, and she is largely 27responsible for several property acquisitions which resulted in 28Fort Caroline Playground, which is also known as the neighborhood’s 29backyard, Victory Park, and other local, informal play areas; and 30 WHEREAS, Gerrie Atkinson has been a special patroness of Fort

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1Caroline Playground, having been instrumental in the creation of 2this park from the time of its inception during the development of 3the Fort Caroline Club Estates subdivision, and she has voluntarily 4cared for and nurtured this park and those who use it through 5countless hours of picking up litter and downed tree limbs, 6providing wisdom and guidance to children enjoying the park, 7watering and protecting new tree plantings, generally overseeing 8park activity, and promoting the funding of enhancements such as 9the construction of a pavilion and the installation of playground 10equipment and other amenities; and 11 WHEREAS, Gerrie Atkinson is worthy of emulation and honor for 12her unfailing dedication to the people of Jacksonville, especially 13her tireless efforts to benefit our recreational opportunities, and 14the Council is desirous of recognizing her by the most fitting and 15proper renaming of Fort Caroline Playground in her honor; now, 16therefore 17 BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville: 18 Section 1. The Fort Caroline Playground located at 6629 19Ft. Caroline Road is hereby named “Gerrie’s Park” in recognition of 20Mrs. Atkinson’s long civic dedication to the neighborhood, 21community and specifically the park. 22 Section 2. The provisions of Section 122.102(a), 23Ordinance Code, concerning the prohibition against naming public 24facilities after a living person are hereby waived. 25 Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall 26become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming 27effective without the Mayor’s signature. 28Form Approved: 29____/s/ Margaret M. Sidman______30Office of General Counsel 31Legislation Prepared By: Margaret M. Sidman 2 - 2 - 1

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