A city councilwoman’s proposal to name a ball field after a former Maricopa Little League baseball player who died earlier this month has sparked a broader policy discussion about naming public spaces and creating memorials within the city’s public areas.

Councilwoman Julia Gusse knew the family of Tommy Fitzgerald, 12, who died Aug. 5 from a staph infection. She has suggested naming a field in honor of the boy at Pacana Park, where Tommy used to play. 

While the idea has not been discarded, talk among staff and council members at a subcommittee meeting Monday turned toward a discussion of how to handle similar requests in the future. The city does not have a policy for naming individual fields within parks. 

LaTricia Woods, the city’s public information officer, told Mayor Christian Price and Councilwoman Peggy Chapados at the Marketing and Communications Council Subcommittee meeting there are many things the council should consider before attaching a name to a field. 

“We get into this dangerous slope of having these types of requests continuously come before council, putting you into the position of ‘Well, if it was appropriate in this case, why’s it not appropriate in this case?’” she said.

The mayor and council have the authority to name public facilities within Maricopa, according to the city code. Council members can decide to name a facility themselves or have an advisory panel make a recommendation to council.

In March, the council passed a resolution to name the city’s new multigenerational-aquatic center and regional park, which is set to open next year. Input from the public and two city committees led the council to go with the name Copper Sky Recreation Complex. 

Guidelines for naming public facilities also are written into the city’s Marketing Partnership Program Policy – an outline for managing marketing partnerships between the city and outside groups. 

According to the policy, the council must approve all naming-rights agreements. It also states public areas or an event can “be named after an individual, corporation or other entity as recognition for financial support.”