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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date:October 7, 2025 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No.8-r <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Naming the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie <br />Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field” <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners, <br />Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br />& Recreation, & County <br />Manager (DEAPR) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Resolution <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board, 919- <br />245-2130 <br />Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR, 919-245-2517 <br />David Stancil, DEAPR Director, 919-245- <br />2510 <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution naming the Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach <br />Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field”. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: At its Business meeting on September 16, 2025, and in accordance with the <br />Orange County Property Naming Policy, the Board of Commissioners stated its intent to adopt a <br />resolution naming Cedar Grove Park Athletic Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook <br />Athletic Field”. The Board also directed staff to prepare a resolution codifying this intent for <br />consideration at the Board’s October 7, 2025 Business meeting. <br /> <br />Willie Lawrence Vanhook (born July 16, 1932) is widely known and respected as a civic leader, <br />successful tobacco farmer, Civil Rights advocate and church trustee, both in his beloved Cedar <br />Grove community and throughout Orange County. Mr. Vanhook achieved a major integration <br />breakthrough by becoming one of the first African American tobacco buyers in the country. One <br />of his proudest achievements came as a result of his recognition of the importance of athletics <br />and sports as an avenue to reach and lift the young members of his community. This awareness <br />inspired Mr. Vanhook to take a leading role in the formation of the Cedar Grove Recreation <br />Association, with a goal of helping to shape athletes, both youth and adults, into better players <br />and citizens of their community. Through his work with the Association, Mr. Vanhook harnessed <br />the game of softball to help hundreds of athletes learn the sport and compete successfully in his <br />community and beyond. Athletic Field #1 at the former Cedar Grove School served as the home <br />for his long-standing career as a softball coach and mentor. <br /> <br />In appreciation of Willie Lawrence Vanhook’s dedication and commitment to his community, the <br />Cedar Grove Recreation Association has requested the naming of the Cedar Grove Park Athletic <br />Field #1 as the “Coach Willie Lawrence Vanhook Athletic Field.” As part of this recognition, <br />1