Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: June 12, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: Venerria L. Thomas, Director
FROM: Kyle Kent, Manager
CONTACT: Kyle Kent, Manager
PHONE: (407) 836-6202
DIVISION: Parks and Recreation Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approval of Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommendation to change the name of the park located at 6400 Yucatan Drive from "Yucatan Park" to "Commissioner Mary I. Johnson Park" in honor of her extraordinary contributions to Orange County, the Azalea Park community, and the advancement of parks, recreation, and public service. District 3. (Parks and Recreation Division)
body
PROJECT: N/A
PURPOSE: Approval is requested to change the name of "Yucatan Park" to "Commissioner Mary I. Johnson Park." Commissioner Johnson was the driving force behind the creation of Yucatan Park. As an Orange County Commissioner, she negotiated land acquisition from the Orlando Utilities Commission for the nominal cost of $1 and then secured County funding to develop the park, ensuring that the Azalea Park neighborhood gained a much-needed green space. She remained actively involved throughout the development process and attended the park's opening in 2007. The renaming request also notes that the park was originally intended to bear her name, but policy requirements at that time required an honoree to be deceased for a specified period. Commissioner Johnson passed away in June 2020, which meets the current County policy criteria for this posthumous recognition.
Commissioner Johnson devoted more than three decades to public service and community advocacy, serving as District 2 Orlando City Commissioner from 1980 to 1992 and as District 3 Orange County Commissioner from 1992 to 2004. The renaming request identifies her as the first Hispanic elected Commissioner for both the City of Orlando and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. In addition to founding Yucatan Park, she was instrumental in th...
Click here for full text