Supervisors propose naming McGovern Park lagoon after boys who drowned there

by committee

May 8, 2006 -- The McGovern Park Lagoon should be named the Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia Parker Memorial Lagoon after the two boys who drowned there, according to three county supervisors say.

Supervisors Elizabeth Coggs-Jones, Toni Clark and Lee Holloway say in a resolution that "although the search for these two beautiful, well-mannered, vibrant and happy friends ended in tragedy, Quadrevion and Purvis brought Milwaukee County, a diverse community, together around a common cause."

The bodies of Parker, 11, and his friend, Henning, 12 were found in the lagoon April 14. They had disappeared from their nearby neighborhood on March 19, sparking a nearly monthlong search capturing the attention of the entire region.

The resolution is scheduled to be discussed by the County Board's Parks Committee at its meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Also on the agenda: the Parks Department's woeful finances. County Board staff is recommending the Board accept deep cuts to avoid a deficit. In addition, it looks like the department likely did not budget enough for natural gas, and that may add to the department's problems.

The Parks operation ran an estimated $1.3 million deficit in 2005.

For full Parks Committee agenda, click here.