TITLE:
title
DONATION OF A MEMORIAL TREE, A BENCH AND TWO PLAQUES AT ESTANCIA PARK
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DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/MAINTENANCE SERVICES DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: ROBERT RYAN, MAINTENANCE SERVICES MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: ROBERT RYAN, MAINTENANCE SERVICES MANAGER, (714) 754-5123
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Parks and Community Services Commission accept the donation of a tree, a bench and two (2) plaques to be installed at Estancia Park in memory of John (Jack) Thomas O’Meara.
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BACKGROUND:
The City is in receipt of a letter from Catherine Franklin and Martha O’Meara requesting permission from this Commission to donate a tree, a bench and two (2) plaques to be installed at Estancia Park in memory of John (Jack) Thomas O’Meara (Attachment 1).
The O’Meara family moved to Mesa Verde, down the hill from Estancia Park, in 1967 where they reside today. Jack was born in Illinois in 1931. After graduating from Colby College, he joined the Navy and was stationed in California. He married his wife, Martha, and they had three daughters. They originally settled in Los Angeles and moved to the Mesa Verde neighborhood in Costa Mesa, which they felt offered a more tranquil and safer neighborhood with a sense of community and quality schools. The family has enjoyed six decades in Mesa Verde, sharing this special community with their children, grandchildren and now their great-grandchild.
The family has many fond memories of carefree days at Estancia Park throughout the years, including playing in the fields, using the swings, flying kites, watching Santa Claus arrive by helicopter, attending Balearic Elementary School, and enjoying winter activities at the park. According to the letter, Jack would jog around the Estancia Park fields and go up to the adobe to sit in peace. He loved the community so much that he turned down promotions that would have required him to move because he considered Mesa Verde the perfect place to live.
Mr...
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