Title
REQUEST TO OFFICIALLY 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 officially name the Hoard Park Basketball Courts in honor of Bryan A. Leach.
II. Park Naming Information
Park or feature: Hoard Park Basketball Courts
Location: northwest corner of the park, at the intersection of 72nd Street and Dobson Avenue
Community Area: South Shore
Ward: 5
Proposed Name: Bryan A. Leach Basketball Courts
III. Park Naming Procedures
Pursuant to Chapter VII, Section E (1) of the Code of the Chicago Park District, this request to name Park #532 was forwarded to the Secretary of the Chicago Park District, who filed a copy of this request with the Committee on Programs and Recreation and initiated a notice period to solicit public input. Notices were posted in parks and sent to advisory councils located within a one-mile radius of the park site. Elected officials were also notified of the proposal, including the alderman of the ward in which the park is located.
The notice period of forty-five (45) days soliciting public input regarding the naming proposal was initiated on April 12, 2019. There has been positive support for this proposal from community members as well as Alderman Leslie Hairston. Staff recommends that the Board approve the request to name the basketballs courts at Hoard Park as the Bryan A. Leach Basketball Courts.
IV. Explanation
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 ul...
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