Title
REQUEST TO INITIATE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD
TO NAME THE HOARD PARK BASKETBALL COURTS
IN HONOR OF BRYAN A. LEACH
Body
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that an order be entered authorizing the General Superintendent or his designee to initiate a 45-day notice period to solicit public input to name the Hoard Park Basketball Courts in honor of Bryan A. Leach.
Proposed Park or feature: Hoard Park Basketball Courts
Location: northwest corner of the park, at the intersection of 72nd Street and South Dobson Avenue
Community Area: South Shore
Ward: 5
Proposed Name: Bryan A. Leach Basketball Courts
II. Explanation
The Chicago Park District naming and renaming procedures allow for the naming of features in parks, including playgrounds and buildings. Ms. Malissa Williams requested that the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners name the Hoard Park Basketball Courts in honor of Bryan A. Leach. This proposal has the support of Alderman Leslie Hairston and the community.
Bryan A. Leach was a Chicago native, growing up in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. He was a constant fixture on the basketball courts at Hoard Park. His love affair with the game of basketball followed him from his early days at Chicago Vocational and Simeon High Schools, through being recruited to play for Sioux Empire College in Iowa, through playing for South East College (Nebraska) and ultimately the University of Nebraska. During his playing career, he received much recognition and many accolades for his performance on the court.
He is perhaps better known for his high-scoring prowess on the local courts, earning him respect on the courts at IIT and as one of the playground legends in Chicago basketball lore. He was a leading player in the summer Pro-Am league games in the 1980s and 1990s, earning several MVP awards. He remained active in the community in many ways, including sponsoring youth basketball tournaments. He also worked to be a positive force in the community, coordinating block parties and festivals, and fostering a sense of fellowship with his neighbors.
Bryan is survived by his parents (who still live across from Hoard Park), his children, and many family members, friends, coaches, and teammates.
III. Park Naming Procedures
Chapter VII, Section E of the Code of the Chicago Park District, (the Naming Ordinance), which governs the naming and renaming of parks and park features, states that if a proposed name honors a person, the (i) person shall have been deceased for a least one (1) year prior to consideration; and (ii) the person shall have demonstrated a continued commitment and made an extraordinary contribution to civic betterment, locally, nationally or internationally.
Pursuant to the Naming Ordinance, this request to rename and name parks have been forwarded to the Secretary of the Chicago Park District, who shall (i ) file a copy of this request with the Board of Commissioners (or appropriate Committee); and (ii) initiate a notice period of at least 45 days to provide notice and solicit public input. Such notice shall be posted at the respective subject park field house (or for any park without a field house, at the nearest field house) and it shall be sent to advisory councils located within a one (1) mile radius of the subject park. At the conclusion of the notice period, the General Superintendent or his designee may in his discretion recommend to the Board that it approve the requested renames and names.