Laguna City Council Talks Renaming Park, $30K Animal Shelter Donation

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The Laguna Beach City Council agenda had a packed schedule Tuesday night, including accepting a donation toward the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter and the discussion on renaming of the Top of the World Park after a much-revered former resident.

This week, city council members were expected to accept a donation from the Edward Burkart estate for $29,751.46. Burkart was a Laguna Beach resident, aerospace computer engineer, and animal advocate. He passed away in 2015 at 86 years old, leaving ten percent of his estate to the shelter.

According to City Manager Shohreh Dupuis, the estate settlement was recently finalized, and the animal shelter was notified of the donation.

Nearly $30,000 in donated funds would be earmarked toward facility maintenance, animal care, and educational outreach, with a matching increase in estimated Animal Shelter Estate Donations, according to the agenda.

Laguna Beach city council was also expected to rename the Top of the World Park to William M. Wilcoxen Park.

The recommendation for the park's renaming came from Mayor Pro Tem Sue Kempf, who recommended the remaining park along with a new park identification sign. The Laguna Beach Recreation Committee supported the proposal, supported by over 20 letters from residents.

Top of the World Park is a "small pocket park" between Treetop Lane, Fire Station #3, and Top of the World Elementary School.

"In February, the Recreation Committee received a proposal from two high school seniors—Jackson Flemming and Haily Weng— to rename the park to honor William Wilcoxen's environmental stewardship," Kempf said.

According to Kempf, Wilcoxen played a significant role in acquiring the park's land and preserving other coastal spaces.

The city does not have an official renaming policy. However, they have approved renaming in the past, Kempf said. Residents within 300 feet of the park were informed of the potential change.

Wilcoxon's granddaughter, Juliana Rosenfeld, wrote a letter suggesting renaming the park in his honor would carry on his legacy.

"I know my grandpa has impacted countless people, including my mother, grandma, aunts, sisters, cousins, and myself, who have all carried on his passion for preserving the environment through careers, studies, and countless conversations," she wrote. "I hope having his name on this park will allow him to inspire the next generations of Laguna Beach residents, as well."