Gov. Ron DeSantis Park is coming to Manatee County after commissioners vote to OK it
Manatee County’s newest park will officially bear the name of Gov. Ron DeSantis when it opens next year.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday afternoon to finalize the name of the upcoming 17-acre park near Kinnan Elementary School as “Governor Ron DeSantis Park.” It will feature walking trails, a dog park and pickleball courts near the 7500 block of Prospect Road.
Earlier this year, the name of the park became a controversial subject. Commissioner Misty Servia proposed a survey that would collect name suggestions from residents, but the online survey was overrun after her political opponent urged voters to name the park after DeSantis.
“I really love and respect Gov. DeSantis, but I’m looking for a pure process that isn’t politicized,” Servia said at the time. “I love our governor and I think there is a way to honor him, but I’m not sure that a tiny neighborhood park is the right way to honor him.”
But other commissioners argued that the survey speaks for itself, noting that DeSantis won the most votes out of more than 350 submissions.
“If you look at the survey that was done, there is definitely a name that had more votes than any other name. I will tell you that the people have spoken,” said Commissioner Vanessa Baugh. “It is time for us to move forward and name this park. They want to see it named after our governor. It’s not even close.”
At the time, other park name suggestions included “Snooty Park,” “Tallevast Community Park” and “Prospect Preserve.”
Park survey became ‘political’
The survey results released by the county redacted any identifying information, making it impossible to tell how many votes came from local residents or whether anyone submitted multiple votes.
“My goal in hosting a naming process for the District 4 was to bring families together, especially children, to help them name their new park,” Servia said Tuesday. “Sadly, this fun contest was hijacked for political reasons during a campaign.”
Servia also accused Baugh of working alongside Mike Rahn, the conservative Republican candidate who defeated Servia during the primary election in August. In response, denied those allegations and expressed support for the governor.
“I do support naming the park the Gov. Ron DeSantis Park because in the last couple of years he has truly earned that right in Manatee County,” Baugh said.
In a series of public comment messages attached to Tuesday’s meeting agenda, local residents expressed opposition to naming the park after the governor. A handful of residents urged board members to reconsider the park’s name during the meeting, as well.
“It’s a fun thing that we ruined,” Shannon Keever said. “Stop embarrassing us. Stop dividing our county. Why do you want everybody in our county to hate each other?”
“That park is not going to be done for another year. We need to table this and open a real conversation with the governor and the citizens of District 4,” Glen Gibellina added. “You need to rethink this mistake before you make a disastrous decision.”
Despite those concerns, the board voted 4-3 to approve a resolution naming the park after DeSantis. Commissioners Servia, Reggie Bellamy and Carol Whitmore voted against the name.
“Hopefully, we’ll name something after President Trump soon,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.
Reached for comment in May, a spokesperson for the governor’s office said DeSantis appreciated the board’s decision to name the park after him. DeSantis is seeking re-election to a four-year term as governor in November.
“The governor appreciates the kind recognition of the Manatee County Commission and the people of Manatee County for his work on behalf of Floridians,” the governor’s press secretary wrote in an email to the Bradenton Herald. “We look forward to being back in Manatee soon.”
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 3:17 PM.
