The City of Rockville is creating a new 6.5 acre park in the Chestnut Lodge neighborhood and reached out to residents for suggestions on the name of the new park. Among the suggestions were several to name the park in honor of recently deceased Deputy State Fire Chief and Captain of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Sander Cohen. The suggestions were reviewed by Rockville Recreation and Parks Advisory Board and a recommendation was made by the Board to name the park, "Chestnut Lodge Park." The Board indicated that "a person must be deceased for at least one year prior to naming something in their honor." However in speaking to the Department of Parks and Recreation, it has been determined that the policy is a guideline only and that the Mayor and Council has final decision-making authority on the future park's name.

Please consider signing this petition to ask the Mayor and Council to override the Advisory Board's recommendation. Consider submitting written testimony to cityclerk@rockvillemd.gov or City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. Attend the public hearing on the name at 7 PM, Monday, April 30, at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave.  The Mayor and Council are scheduled to take action on the recommendation at their May 7 meeting. Thank you. Arlene and Neil Cohen