The city of Cape Coral has received a formal request to rename Jaycee Park “Roger Dean Park” and is accepting input on the proposal submitted by the Dean family.

The proposed rename was submitted by Patricia B. Dean in honor of her father. Proposal criteria cited is “Over 35 years commitment and contributions to the city of Cape Coral and its communities as Cape Coral’s first automotive dealership.”

“It would mean the world to me to have Jaycee Park renamed Roger Dean Park in honor of my late father. He was a wonderful person and entrepreneur who did many great things including opening the first car dealership in Cape Coral,” Patricia Dean wrote.

The application was reviewed by the city’s Parks and Recreation director and meets the criteria for consideration, officials said.

“This proposal adheres to the requirements outlined in City Code Section 2-167, which governs the process for renaming public spaces and mandates consideration of such requests,” city officials stated in a release issued this morning.

“The submission has met all necessary criteria for consideration, including documentation of that individual’s significance and good reputation in the history of the City. In accordance with city regulations, physical signs have been placed at Jaycee Park to notify the public of this proposed change.”

Born in 1915, Roger Dean served in World War II as a naval officer. He began his career with the Fort Motor Company in 1947, becoming one of the first “mega-dealers,” the renaming proposal states.

He opened Roger Dean Chevrolet on Pine Island Road in 1990 and subsequently “became a huge benefactor for the area,” serving as a sponsor for numerous community events and acting as a donation site for a variety of charitable endeavors.

“We believe that Roger Dean’s prominence in the Cape Coral Community for nearly 35 years, both as a successful business man and generous benefactor, makes him a worthy candidate for having the city’s most popular park destination, Jaycee Park, named after him. We hope you agree and create a lasting legacy of which he would be proud and truly grateful,” the proposal states.

As per city ordinance, the 30-day public notice period is now in effect, allowing residents and stakeholders to voice their opinions on the renaming. The public notice period will conclude on Oct. 3.

“Residents who wish to submit their comments must do so in writing to the City’s Parks and Recreation Director. Per City Code, only written input will be considered during the public notice period,” city officials said.

All written input should be addressed to:

Parks and Recreation Director

1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL, 33990

Mailed responses must be postmarked within the 30-day window for comment.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to delete reference to a petition supporting the re-naming of the park. Information received concerning the petition was incorrect.