Title
“Fowlkes Community Park” - For the purpose of designating certain City-owned property as a Pocket Park; naming the Pocket Park the “Fowlkes Community Park”; and generally relating to dedicating said Pocket Park.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 16-21
Introduced by: Alderman Paone and Alderwoman Pindell Charles
Co-sponsored by: Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman Finlayson
A RESOLUTION concerning
“Fowlkes Community Park”
Referred to:
The Heritage Commission
FOR the purpose of designating certain City-owned property as a Pocket Park; naming the Pocket Park the “Fowlkes Community Park”; and generally relating to dedicating said Pocket Park.
WHEREAS, Mr. Lloyd Fowlkes and Mrs. Gilda Addison Fowlkes are native Annapolitans; and
WHEREAS, For over 4 decades, Mr. Fowlkes and “The Pipe Dreamers” provided thousands of hours of musical enjoyment and entertainment to Annapolis and Anne Arundel County residents as well as to music lovers beyond our borders; and
WHEREAS, The professional talents of Mr. Fowlkes as an electrician were very necessary as a valued member of the BGE family for 35 years; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fowlkes has educated children in the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County communities for 55 years; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, Mrs. Fowlkes began her professional career with Anne Arundel County Public Schools at Germantown Elementary School, she then transferred to Tyler Heights Elementary School, and later to Germantown Elementary School - although she retired in 2006, she is currently employed as a very valued member of the Georgetown East Elementary School staff; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Fowlkes served these schools as a Title I Teaching Assistant, making home visits, and serving as a community liaison between the home and the schoolhouse, oftentimes using recreation as a catalyst; and
WHEREAS, For over 45 years, Mrs. Fowlkes has served as the Supervisor and Director of our Summer Camps, writing her own programs for the camps, of which 6 have been located in Annapolis schools; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes have resided on McGuckian Street in Ward 2 since February 1975, where they have raised their family; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes’ home is at the very end of McGuckian Street, which backs up to the intersection of Russell Street/S. Villa Street/Smithville Street; and
WHEREAS, At that intersection is a small park-like area of City-owned property that is located adjacent to 1200 McGuckian Street where Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes and their family have served as volunteer caretakers of this property, at their own expense, since they have resided at this location, sprinkling grass seed and straw, doing a little weeding, etc; and
WHEREAS, At times, there have been situations that have required resources beyond their capabilities (for example, illegal dumping on the property, the presence of snakes, etc.) and Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes have sought assistance from the City, to which requests for assistance the City has obliged; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes continue to enjoy watching the activity in this area-passersby stopping to reenergize themselves, oftentimes with toddlers and babies and strollers in tow, children playfully walking to and from their schools; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, Alderman Fred Paone and Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell Charles saw the need to tangibly recognize the great works of Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes as embodying the true spirit of Annapolitans, especially Mrs. Fowlkes’ almost 5 decades of dedication to children through her work with the Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD), which oversees the City’s parks system; and
WHEREAS, On March 5, 2021, an on-site meeting was scheduled with Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes, Alderpersons Paone and Pindell Charles, ARPD Director Mr. Archie J. Trader, III, and Parks Supervisor Mr. Rodney Dillard to discuss the creation of a Pocket Park at this location; and
WHEREAS, On March 5, 2021, it was the consensus of those present at the meeting that a City Pocket Park would be established adjacent to 1200 McGuckian Street, with 2-3 benches, a Marker, and other park amenities as may be determined; and
WHEREAS, On March 5, 2021, the group also agreed that the Pocket Park be named “Fowlkes Community Park” in tangible recognition and celebration of the educational, recreational, and musical enjoyment and entertainment that Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes have provided to our communities for almost 6 decades - and they’re still going strong; and
WHEREAS, As Mrs. Fowlkes aptly puts it: “Fowlkes Community Park has a people and family friendly ring to it!”
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to designate a Pocket Park on City-owned property located adjacent to 1200 McGuckian Street in Ward 2 of Annapolis, Maryland and name the Park the “Fowlkes Community Park”.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the City-owned property located adjacent to 1200 McGuckian Street in Ward 2 of Annapolis, Maryland, be designated a Pocket Park and named “Fowlkes Community Park” in recognition of Mr. Lloyd Fowlkes and Mrs. Gilda Fowlkes and their family, all of whom embody the true spirit of “One Annapolis”.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that 2 to 3 benches be installed on the Pocket Park, a Marker, and any other park amenities as approved by the City Council.
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that such Pocket Park dedication shall take effect upon the passage of this Resolution.
EXPLANATION
Underlining indicates matter added.
[Strikethrough] indicates matter stricken.