800-Foot stretch of Orlando road named “President Barack Obama Parkway”

by Mark Schlueb
Orlando Sentinel
Jun. 22, 2010

It’s official: An 800-foot stretch of Orlando road is now named “President Barack Obama Parkway.”

The City Council voted Monday to rename a short section of Mission Road between Cason Cove Drive and Conroy Road in Obama’s honor.

It was a unanimous vote, but not without debate. The original proposal would have left off the title “president,” because the city’s 911 computer system can only handle street names of 18 characters or less (not including "street," "avenue," etc.).

Commissioner Daisy Lynum insisted the title should be included. Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Robert Stuart — both of whom are Democrats — disagreed, pointing out that no other streets named for presidents carry the title.

"I think we all want to honor the current president, it's just a matter of what to put on the sign," Dyer said.

In the end, the title won. Commissioner Sam Ings, who pushed for the renaming, said the street will eventually be longer – and thus, a more fitting honor – when the city completes a road-extension project.