Name chosen for Ocala Park Estates neighborhood park

[Ocala Park Estates Community Park]

The park in the Ocala Park Estates neighborhood has been officially named the Ocala Park Estates Community Park after the name had been used as a placeholder until the community suggested options.

The Parks & Recreation Department held a community naming competition for the park and accepted suggestions from the residents of the neighborhood and students from local surrounding schools.

The top three names suggested by the community were “Green Oaks Park,” “K-9 Leo Memorial Park,” and “Friendship Park.” Rather than choose from the names rounded up from the competition, the Marion County Commission chose instead to keep the temporary name that involves the neighborhood’s namesake.

Thirty-nine submissions were received, the most sentimental of which was in honor of Leo, the fallen Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 that was killed in duty while protecting deputies from harm.

A ribbon ceremony for the Ocala Park Estates Community Park will be held later this month on July 31.