By Katina Caraganis New Pelican Writer Wilton Manors - Island City Park Preserve will be renamed Stafford Park and Nature Preserve in the coming months after a request was brought before the city commission Nov. 26 by Mayor Scott Newton.
The city commission unanimously approved the name change but a second vote will be required, most likely at the Dec. 10 meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board unanimously voted to support the renaming at its October meeting.
The late Marcia Stafford was the city’s first secretary/clerk (1952 to NEW PELICAN • December 5, 2024 NewPelican.com Island City Park Preserve to be renamed in honor of Stafford family 1960), later became a city council member (1961 to 1975), and the Stafford home served as the first city hall.
Her son, Tracy Stafford, devoted his entire career to public service, serving as a city council member (1975 to 1981), mayor (1986 to 1990), and as a state representative (1990 to 2000).
Stafford and her husband Leslie moved here in 1945. She taught school in Wilton Manors and became the unpaid city clerk when the city incorporated in 1947. According to Newton, the Staffords helped to shape the city as it is known today.
The Staffords other child, Nancy Stafford, went on to a successful career in Hollywood, taking guest roles in many TV shows, including “Who’s the Boss?” and “Quantum Leap.” She also had a regular role on “St. Elsewhere” and starred in five seasons of “Matlock.”
While in office, Stafford secured $500,000 in state funds to develop the Island City Park Preserve. He also was the first member of the Florida House of Representatives to introduce legislation that allowed for domestic partnership benefits to same sex couples. He also served on the Wilton Manors Community Affairs Advisory Board as well as the Broward County Advisory Board for Individuals with Disabilities.
“I consider The Stafford Family to be a very deserving family of having a city facility named in their honor. The Staffords were a pioneer family who significantly contributed to the development of Wilton Manors,” Newton said in the nomination application he submitted to the city.
Tracy Stafford wrote a letter to the commission endorsing the decision to rename the park. “Please consider this letter to be my formal approval of the city’s intention,” he wrote. “My parents ingrained servant leadership in my sister Nancy and me, and it has been a real privilege to follow in their footsteps. This proposed renaming is such an honor and privilege, and I know that it would make my mother and father very proud.
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