In 2013, the City of Orlando acquired and razed several houses along the portion of East Washington Street that extended into Lake Eola Park, adjacent to the playground.  The property was then converted into parkland resulting in expansion of the City's signature downtown park.

One of the razed houses, a one-story bungalow located at 528 E. Washington Street, had once been home to Nobel Peace Prize winner John Raleigh Mott (1869-1955), who retired to Orlando in 1938. Mr. Mott's biography is detailed in the attached Monuments and Memorials application, and includes numerous international honors and awards and honorary degrees from six universities including Yale, Edinburgh, Princeton, and Brown. Ultimately, Mr. Mott was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his extraordinary humanitarian work.

By approving this agenda item, the Orlando City Council will authorize placement of a Florida Historical Marker at the site where Mr. Mott's house once stood, recognizing his contributions to humanity. The wording on the marker is included in the attached application.

The marker has been approved by the Florida Department of State through the Florida Historical Marker Program, which aims to increase public awareness of the rich cultural heritage of the state and to enhance the enjoyment of historic sites in Florida by citizens and tourists.

Consistent with the Families, Parks and Recreation (FPR) Department's Monuments and Memorials Policy, the application to place the John R. Mott Historical Marker at Lake Eola Park has been reviewed and approved by all required entities in the chain of approvals, culminating in its review by the FPR Advisory Board at its May 16, 2017 meeting.  At the meeting, the Board voted to recommend, to the Orlando City Council, to place the marker at Lake Eola Park.

The final step in the Monuments and Memorials process is for the Orlando City Council to approve placement of the marker at the site.