Memorandum
Date: June 9, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Helen Owen, District 1 Supervisor
Subject: Consideration of Whether to Initiate the Formal Park Renaming Process Pursuant to County Policy for the Existing Middletown Square Park
Executive Summary:
BACKGROUND:
County staff received correspondence from the Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) reporting that the municipal advisory body voted to recommend renaming the existing County park in Middletown as “Middletown Gateway Park.”
As your Board is aware, MATH serves in an advisory capacity to the County and the District 1 Supervisor on matters affecting the Middletown area. In light of that recommendation, this item has been brought forward for Board consideration regarding whether the County should proceed with the formal renaming process established by County policy.
The County of Lake Park, Recreational Facility, County-Owned Building, and Street Naming Policy (attached) provides that the Board of Supervisors has final authority regarding the naming and renaming of County parks and facilities.
Historically, the park has been referred to as “Middletown Square Park” in County records, public communications, and on the County Parks website.
Under County policy, requests to officially name or rename a park are subject to review by the responsible County department, public notice, a thirty-day public comment period, and subsequent consideration by the Board of Supervisors at a noticed public hearing.
The policy further states:
“Existing names are deemed to have historic recognition. It is the County of Lake's policy to keep the name of any existing park, County-owned buildings, recreational facilities, or roads particularly one whose name has County or regional significance, unless there are compelling reasons to consider such a change.”
DISCUSSION:
This item is intended to allow the Board to determine whether it wishes to direct staff to initiate the formal park renaming process under County policy.
If the Board directs staff to proceed, staff would:
1. Prepare and publish the required notice of intent;
2. Conduct the required thirty-day public review and comment period; and
3. Return the matter to the Board of Supervisors for a noticed public hearing and final consideration.
If the Board does not direct staff to proceed, the existing commonly used name, “Middletown Square Park,” would remain unchanged.
Staff from Public Works has advised that “Middletown Square Park” is the historically recognized name of the facility and that retaining the existing name is consistent with the County’s adopted naming policy.
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Recommended Action: Receive the recommendation from the Middletown Area Town Hall regarding renaming the existing Middletown Square park to “Middletown Gateway Park”, and provide direction to staff