Agenda 07/08/2025 Item # 6A (Petition to rename Willoughby Acres Park to the Clayton Miller Memorial Park at Willoughby Acres)Signature Petition Submitted by Brandon Reiff and Janet Miller requesting to rename
Willoughby Acres Park to the Clayton Miller Memorial Park at Willoughby Acres.
Note: Approximately 1,300 names of Collier County residents (with addresses) were
provided to the County Manager ’s Office via an online petition service.
Biography for Clayton Miller (Submitted by Janet Miller):
Clayton James Frederick Miller was born on October 7, 2010, at Physicians Regional
Hospital in Naples, Florida. He went to Veterans Memorial Elementary School and North
Naples Middle School. He was set to begin high school this fall, at Aubrey Rogers, with a
bright future ahead of him.
He absolutely loved playing football. He spent 9 seasons, 8 years of his life with the Naples
Hurricanes.
From Tiny Mites all the way through 13U being a part of history becoming a National
Champion!
He proudly sported the number 7 from day one! He was a baseball player from the age of
flve as well with the Golden Gate American Little League, becoming a District Champion in
his last year with them at age 12.
He started track in middle school where he excelled as well, as he always loved to be
running.
Clayton loved anything that had to do with being outside.
He loved to go flshing, riding his bike, and hanging with his friends at the park.
He wasn’t just an athlete though, he was an all-American scholar.
His grades were always above average, he never needed help with anything school wise, he
was so smart.
He had a huge impact on this community, not only with his teammates and his friends, but
with anybody who got the chance to meet him.
He had the biggest heart and that is one of my favorite things which I will cherish about
Clayton.
He always made everyone feel like they were loved, no matter if it was a new kid at school
or someone he’s known his whole life.
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He was an old soul with a lot of love to give and a lot of life to live. I’ll miss him forever, but
I’ll know we’ll be together one day.
Rationale for why the park should be renamed for him (Submitted by Brandon Reiff):
The North Naples community is mourning the tragic loss of 14-year-old Clayton Miller, who
passed away in a devastating e-bike accident 2 Saturdays ago in Willoughby Acres.
Clayton was a great student, an amazing athlete, and a wonderful son who was loved by all
who met him.
In light of this recent tragedy, I would like to formally propose renaming Willoughby Acres
Park to the Clayton Miller Memorial Park at Willoughby Acres.
1) Because that's the community he was hit by the car
2) He and his friends played in that park growing up
3) It would commemorate Clayton as well as a reminder to others to drive safely and slowly
in the Willoughby Acres Community
This change would serve as a meaningful tribute to Clayton’s memory and provide a lasting
reminder of the impact he had on our community.
It would also honor his family and loved ones while reinforcing the importance of safety and
community support.
I appreciate your time and consideration of this request.
WINK News Article:
North Naples family pushes to rename park in honor of late teen
Maddie Herron - May 16, 2025; Updated May 19, 2025
A memorial for 14-year-old Clayton Miller, who died two months ago after a vehicle struck
him while riding his e-bike in North Naples, continues to grow at the corner of Lakeland
Avenue and Madison Drive.
Clayton's family is now pushing to rename a local park in his honor.
WINK News reporter Maddie Herron spoke with Clayton's mother, Janet Miller, about her
efforts to commemorate her son.
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"I miss you ... and I love you... and I hope you see, how much everybody loved you," said
Janet Miller, tears in her eyes, as she shared a heartfelt message to her son near the spot
where he died.
"He had so much life to live, and he would have gone so far in anything that he tried to do,"
said Miller, refiecting on her son's untimely passing.
Clayton died in an e-bike crash at the corner of Lakeland Avenue and Madison Drive in
March. While his memorial is covered in messages and tokens of love from friends, his
mother wants to honor him in another way.
"It would just mean a lot to not only me, but I know everybody in Willoughby Acres would be
so grateful to change the name to the Clayton Memorial," said Miller.
The proposed name change to Clayton Miller Memorial Park at Willoughby Acres would
honor a park the teen loved.
Clayton's uncle, Brandon Reiff, has been actively working to make this name change a
reality.
"I went to the county commissioners meeting, spoke in front of all the commissioners," said
Reiff. "Basically came down to we need 1,000 signatures of Collier County residents in
order to make that change to the park."
Reiff organized a petition to rename the park, and, after about a month, gathered 1,000
signatures. However, more may be needed to meet the requirements.
"We hit 1,000 signatures. And very, very thankful for all of them. Unfortunately, it needs to
be Collier County registered voters," said Reiff.
Janet Miller remains hopeful and determined to honor her son.
"Hopefully, if the commissioners see this and see all the love and the signatures that we've
had so far. I mean, I'm going to do everything that I can to remember him, so this would be
amazing," said Miller.
This tribute aims to honor a teen gone too soon. The petition still faces challenges, such as
verifying signatures from Collier County residents and approval from the county manager.
WINK News will provide updates as the petition progresses through these steps.
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Office of the County [Manager
Amy Patterson
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 202 . Naples Florida 34112-5746 . (239) 252-8383
May 29, 2025
Ms. Janet Miller
c/o Mr. Brandon Reiff
141 Wading Bird Circle
Naples, FL 34110
Ms. Miller and Mr. Reiff:
Thank you for submitting your petition and supplemental information to rename the Willoughby Acres Park
after Clayton Miller, a young and promising life lost in our Collier community. Please accept my condolences
for your family's loss.
As provided to Mr. Reiff, Collier County has a longstanding Policy for Noming County-Owned Buildings,
Structures, or Facilities (Policy). I have reviewed your information in its totality, evaluated it via the Policy's
provisions, and provide the following observations and recommendations for your consideration.
Per the Policy, there are two categories for which a natural person, living or deceased, may qualify to have a
building, structure, or facility named in their honor:
Not Bosed Upon Substontiol Contribution(s). ln this case, the natural person must have, by his or her
local actions (which may include a field of endeavor), specifically and directly benefited Collier County
and, preferably, the specific facility or geographic area where the facility exists. This does not include
acts by a person who has benefited the state or nation generally.
Willoughby Acres Park is a Neighborhood Park in the County Parks and Recreation Division's inventory. Unless
renamed via the Policy categories above, or the park's name existed before adoption of the 2003 policy (e.g.,
Panther Park), Neighborhood Parks and Community Parks carry the name of the community in which they are
located. The geographical nexus makes it easier for the public and emergency services to readily identify the
locat io n.
Substontiol Finonciol Contribution to the County. A County-owned facility may be named in honor of a
person(s) who has provided a substantial financial contribution or other substantial valuable asset(s)
(e.g., Iand donation) for the public's benefit, provided that person has not engaged in illegal, immoral,
or improper cond uct; and
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U nfortunate ly, in a pp lying the Policy pa ra mete rs, renaming the pa rk in honor of Clayto n d oes not a ppea r to be
an authorized action. However, lwould be within my purview as County Manager to make a recommendation
to the Board of County Commissioners to ougmentthe signage of Willoughby Acres Park to include reference
to a memorial that could be placed on site, commemorating Clayton's life and love for his community:
Per the Policy, any plaque, memorial, or notation at a County-owned facility would have to be approved by the
County and "must be supplied and paid for by others at no cost to the County." This provision, as well as any
part or totality of a policy, can be suspended by a vote ofthe Board of County Commissioners.
Please contact John Mullins, Director of Communications, Government & Public Affairs at
ioh n. m u llins@colliercou ntyfl.eov if you have any questions about my recommendation. lf you agree to having
Clayton's name made part of the Willoughby Acres Park signage, and wish to explore a potential installation of
a suitable memorial at that facility, please notify Mr. Mullins of the same and he will work with you to
schedule my recommendation to the Board at a future meeting that is convenient to you should you wish to
attend.
Thank you for your consideration of this potential honor for Clayton.
Respectfu lly,
Amy P atterson
Cou nty Manager
Cc:
"Clayton Miller Memorial at Willoughby Acres Park"
James Hanrahan, Director, Parks & Recreation Division
John Mullins, Director, Communications, Government & Public Affairs
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