REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 15, 2016
FROM: OLIVER L. BAINES, III, Councilmember for District 3
Council Offices
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Naming the California and Elm Gym the "Maxie L. Parks Community Center and Gym" - (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the attached resolution naming the California and Elm Gym the "Maxie L. Parks Community Center and Gym."
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Council has the authority to name City facilities by resolution pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 5-101. Maxie L. Parks is a longtime resident of Southwest Fresno and a celebrated Olympian in track and field, who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the City and County of Fresno, Washington Union High School, Fresno City College, and UCLA Athletics. In addition, Mr. Parks serves as Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors of Westside Church of God, and serves as the church's Building Fund Chair, having raised $400,000 to erect a multi-use building for the church and community of Southwest Fresno.
BACKGROUND
Maxie L. Parks was born July 9, 1951, in Lee County, Arkansas. At the age of ten he and his family moved to Fresno, where Maxie attended West Fresno Elementary and Junior High Schools. It was at this time that Maxie began to formally embrace his love for track and field and other sports.
Maxie is a 1970 graduate from Washington Union High School in Easton. While at Washington Union, Maxie participated in football, wrestling and track and field. Maxie was All American twice while in high school and league champion in wrestling. Maxie went on to Fresno City College from 1970 to 1972 with a track scholarship and obtained an AA Degree. After Fresno City College Maxie received a full scholarship to UCLA and attended from 1972 to 1975 obtaining a BA degree in Sociology.
After college Maxie was part of four United States teams that toured Europe and trained for the 1976 Olympics in Montr?al...
Click here for full text