(a) City Parks are a scarce resource provided for active recreational use and passive celebration of natural beauty by the general public. The City Council recognizes the desires of members of the public to memorialize or pay tribute to deceased friends or relatives at or in conjunction with a favorite park or recreational activity. The Council believes that placement of memorials or tributes to private individuals in City parks must be governed by a policy that preserves a positive experience for the public in the park, ensures that all costs of a memorial or tribute are borne by those requesting it, and provides a net benefit to park users.
The following types of memorials are authorized on the following conditions, subject to specific approval that shall be given on a case by case basis consistent with the foregoing policy:
(1) For a minimum contribution of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the Parks and Recreation Gift Fund, a memorial certificate may be provided to the family or friend and the gift may be acknowledged in an annual report kept on file at the Oxford Municipal Building.
(2) For a donation to the Parks and Recreation Gift Fund of the value of an existing tree as determined by the Director of Parks and Recreation and the cost of staff time and materials, a small plaque of a uniform design determined by the Director of Parks and Recreation and bearing the species name and the name of the individual honored may be placed at the base of the tree.
(3) For the cost of acquisition and installation, a bench, drinking fountain or other public amenity certified as needed and consistent with park design standards by the Director of Parks and Recreation may be donated. An appropriate memorial plaque, as determined by the Director of Parks and Recreation, may be affixed to the donated amenity.
(4) Placement of a freestanding memorial to individuals in parks will be considered only when the individual memorialized is of extraordinary stature and the memorial is exceptional in design. An extended approval process involving appropriate Board and City Council action will be required.
(b) When a park is scheduled for renovation, no plaques or amenities may be placed until park design standards and amenity selections are finalized.
(c) The City will not bear responsibility for replacement of lost, stolen or vandalized plaques.
(Ord. 2605. Passed 10-6-98.)
(Ord. 2605. Passed 10-6-98.)