Mississauga's Muzzo Park gets a tweak to its name

The park wasn't named for the convicted drunk driver who killed three young children - but rather his developer/philanthropist grandfather.

Thestar.com
March 30, 2016
By Jacques Gallant

No, not thatMarco Muzzo.
That’s the message Mississauga city council is trying to communicate after it passed a resolution Wednesday renaming Marco Muzzo Memorial Woods and Park to Marco Muzzo Senior Memorial Woods and Park.

According to a resolution moved by Councillor Sue McFadden, whose ward includes the park, there appeared to be confusion and concern from the community that it was named after convicted drunk driver Marco Muzzo.

The park is actually named for his late grandfather, also named Marco, a titan in the construction and development industry who died in 2005.

“When the whole accident happened, which is a tragedy to start with, they wanted me to take away the name right away. Not even change the name, but take it off,” she told the Star. “I said, ‘First of all, it hasn’t been proven in court - give the man his day in court, and when that happens, we’ll make a decision.’”

The 29-year-old King City man was sentenced Tuesday in Newmarket to 10 years in prison for a crash that killed Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, Harrison, 5, and Milagros, 2, and their 65-year-old grandfather, Gary Neville.

The following day, McFadden carried through with her promise.

“I think the community wanted to differentiate between Marco Muzzo the grandson and Marco Muzzo the community leader, activist, builder, philanthropist. So that’s why I did it today,” she said.

McFadden said she knew Muzzo Sr. and that he was responsible for building much of the surrounding area where the park is located. She said Senior would not be pleased with Junior’s actions.

“I think Marco Muzzo would be rolling over in his grave right now. He’d be horrified,” she said.
The park’s 2007 dedication included then-mayor Hazel McCallion, councillors and members of the Erin Mills Development Corporation, which Muzzo headed for 25 years, according to a short article at the time in the Mississauga News.

Other locations bearing the Muzzo name include the Marco Muzzo Atrium at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s library and the Muzzo Family Alumni Hall on the downtown Toronto campus.

A university spokeswoman said no concerns have been raised about the names.

It’s all quiet at Brampton Civic Hospital as well, according to a spokeswoman, who said no complaints have been received about its DeGasperis & Muzzo atrium.

There are also at least two streets in Vaughan and Woodbridge named Muzzo, but a city spokeswoman was unable to respond to a request for comment Wednesday.