HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 09-16-2025; 8-b - Request for Proposed Naming of Cedar Grove Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field” 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 16, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-b
SUBJECT: Request for Proposed Naming of Cedar Grove Athletic Field #1 as the "Coach
Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field"
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Orange County Property Naming Travis Myren, 919-245-2308
Policy David Stancil, 919-245-2522
2. Request from Cedar Grove
Recreation Association
PURPOSE: To receive a request from the Cedar Grove Recreation Association and consider
stating the Board's intent to adopt a resolution for the naming of Cedar Grove Athletic Field #1 as
the "Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field".
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Facility Naming Policy (Attachment 1) establishes a two-
step process to name County owned buildings, facilities, and land. Following receipt of a written
request, the County Manager prepares an agenda item through which the Board states its
intention to consider the adoption of a resolution for the naming of the public building, facility, or
land at a subsequent meeting as determined by the Board of Commissioners. The Board has the
option of directing that a public notice be published informing the public of the Board's intention.
The second step is for the Board to approve a resolution to officially name a building, facility, or
land.
The County Manager received a written request from the Cedar Grove Recreation Association to
name the Cedar Grove Athletic Field #1 as the "Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field"
(Attachment 2). Commissioner Earl McKee also shared this request with the Board at its August
26, 2025 Business meeting. This agenda item serves as the mechanism through which the Board
can state its intent to consider a resolution officially naming Athletic Field #1 as the "Coach Willie
Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field".
The County has customarily purchased a marker (or in some cases a plaque) that designates the
name of the building, facility, or land.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of a ground-mounted interpretive marker naming Athletic Field #1
is approximately $3,800 to $4,000. The Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and
Recreation will use currently budgeted funds to acquire and install the marker.
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ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• VISION STATEMENT: We are a diverse, inclusive, and healthy county working together
to strengthen our community and enhance the quality of life for all residents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) state its intent to adopt a resolution naming Cedar Grove Athletic Field #1 as the "Coach
Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field"; and
2) direct staff to prepare a resolution codifying this intent for consideration at the Board's
October 7, 2025 Business meeting.
Attachment 1 3
POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL
MEETING DATE: February 21, 1989 NUMBER: A-0390
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 21, 1989 REVISIONS:November 9, 2005
March 3, 2009
November 17, 2015
December 16,2016
POLICY: Orange County Property Naming Policy
Policy "Policy Statement"
County owned buildings,facilities and land shall bear such names as the Orange County Board of
Commissioners shall approve pursuant to this policy. This policy follows all applicable local,state and
federal laws,rules and regulations.
Purpose
This policy is to establish the Board of County Commissioners as the responsible authority for naming of
County buildings,facilities,and land.
Guidelines
2.1. The naming of public buildings,facilities and land shall be done only by the Board of County
Commissioners by resolution adopted by majority vote.
2.1.1. Property to be given names or titles shall be either owned by Orange County government
or leased by Orange County government for its use.
2.1.2. Properties to be named or given a title include county-owned or leased buildings.
2.1.3. Official names or titles for property belonging to the County shall only be changed by the
Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate after a public participation
process.
2.1.4. Current names for property belonging to the County shall remain the same unless
changed by the Board of County Commissioners upon relocation or change in function of
the property.
2.1.5. Property belonging to Orange County may be named for living persons with the
following qualifications.
a. Any areas or rooms in buildings,other physical facilities,collections of books,records
or other printed or audio-visual materials, land or water areas
b. Living persons who secure funding and/or make a significant contribution to the life
and well being of Orange County.
c. Leased property that has been conferred a name by the lessor that is a person's
name need not be renamed if it has locational or other value
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2.1.6 Official names or titles for property belonging to or leased by the County shall be based
upon geographical, historical, ecological, functional, or other such factors as the Board of
County Commissioners deems appropriate. If a geographical reference of locational
value is derived from the name of a person, such as a street name, it may be used in
naming County property.
a. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased
for park development or conservation/preservation will be given a "working
title" which will only become the official title of the property when formally
approved as such by the BOCC
b. Memorial naming of a public building, facility or land is in addition to the
official title of the building/facility/land and is bestowed in accordance with
Section 2.2 of this policy
c. Leased property naming will respect historical names that may already be
attached to the facility or as may be negotiated with the owner of the
building.
2.1.7 Exceptions to this policy of naming property belonging to the County may be made by
the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate.
2.1.8 This policy does not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar
thoroughfares.
2.1.9 This policy shall not be construed as the mechanism for selling the permanent naming
rights to County structures, buildings, facilities or land.
2.2. Memorial Naming (in honor of a deceased individual) of Public Buildings, Facilities, or Land:
In the event Orange County wishes to honor a deceased individual by naming a public
building, facility or land after such an individual, the following shall apply:
2.2.1. The person who is being honored by such a memorial shall have made a significant
contribution to the well-being and betterment of Orange County.
2.2.2. The party requesting a memorial shall submit a brief biography of the person to Orange
County government for recording purposes.
2.2.3. The memorial naming of a public building, facility or land will be in addition to the
official name as defined in Section 2.1.6 of this policy.
2.2.4. Renaming a public building, facility or land which has previously been named in honor
of or in memorial to an individual shall only be done in extraordinary circumstances as
determined by the Board.
Procedures
2.3. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased for park
development or conservation/preservation shall be given a "working title" by staff for easy
identification of the property.
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2.4. The proposed naming of a public building, facility or land may be generated in the following
manner.
a. Staff shall recommend to the BOCC an official title of the public building, facility or land in
accordance with Section 2.1.6 of this policy. Such recommended by staff will be made prior to
the completion of any project to construct, renovate or develop the property.
b. Any person, firm or association may propose a name for a County owned building, facility
or land by submitting the proposal in writing to the County Manager or Clerk to the Board.
c. Under certain circumstances the BOCC may wish to set in place a public process for
soliciting input in the official naming of a public building, facility or land.
2.5. The County Manager shall prepare a report with recommendations for the proposed naming of
the public building, facility or land and present it to the BOCC for consideration at a regularly
scheduled public meeting.
2.6. Upon receipt of the report and the recommendations of the manager the BOCC will state its
intent to consider the adoption of a resolution for the naming or renaming of the public
building, facility or land at the next or some subsequent meeting as determined by the BOCC.
2.7. The Board may determine the public building, facility or land is of significant public interest
and direct a notice be published informing the public of the Board's intent to consider the
naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land and fix a time and place for a public
hearing on the question.
2.8. Upon approval of the resolution by the BOCC, the public building, facility or land shall bear
the name assigned to it from and after the date of Board action or such subsequent date as the
BOCC may prescribe.
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Attachment 2
September 2, 2025
Dear County Commissioners and Honorable Officials:
I am writing to you regarding the naming of the Cedar Grove Athletic
Softball Field #1, located on the grounds of the Cedar Grove Community
Center Complex.
This space holds great significance for our community, and I believe that
the name chosen should reflect both the history and values of the Cedar
Grove Community.
Proposed Rationale:
Mr. Willie Lawrence VanHook saw Softball not only as a sport, but as an
avenue to reach and lift others throughout the Cedar Grove Community and
abroad. His ultimate goal was to shape athletes into better players who
would become better people.
With this vision and determination, he was instrumental in laying the very
first bricks of our Softball foundation: The Cedar Grove Recreation
Association.
Through grit, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief he sparked something
bigger than a Softball game, he sparked a LEGACY.
I respectfully ask for your consideration in naming the field, Coach Willie
Lawrence VanHook, in honor of The Cedar Grove Recreation Association,
whose contributions have greatly impacted our community.
Respectfully submitted,
The Cedar Grove Recreation Association
Contact: Richal VanHook, 919-8o1-2114
richal.vanhook(&gmail.com
Contact: Sheila VanHook McDonald, 919-636-8238
sheilavmcdonald(&email.com
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Proposed Naming Date:
October 11, 2025
Location:
Cedar Grove Community Center, Softball Field #1
Unveiling time:
TBD
Cedar Grove Recreation Planning Committee:
Bishop Luther Brooks
Richal VanHook
Cumilla White
Hattie VanHook
Sandra Brooks
Melinda Bradsher
Sheila VanHook McDonald