Signs removed from Marco Muzzo park in Mississauga as name-changing process begins
New signs should be up in a few days

Mississauga.com
April 5, 2016
By Louie Rosella

The physical process of renaming Marco Muzzo Memorial Woods and Park in Churchill Meadows has begun, as evidenced this afternoon by the park signs that no longer have the park name.

City of Mississauga councillors voted last week to adjust the name of the park, fearing residents will associate the name to the convicted drunk driver responsible for killing three children and their grandfather.

The new signs reading “Marco Muzzo Senior Memorial Woods and Park” will be up in the next few days.

The park, which extends around Erin Centre Boulevard and Churchill Meadows Boulevard, is named after building magnate Marco Muzzo, but residents expressed concerns to the City that it could be confused with his 29-year-old grandson of the same name, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison last Tuesday (March 29) for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed three Brampton children and their grandfather.

“The potential for confusion with the duplication of names of these two individuals can be addressed by renaming the park,” a resolution passed by councillors on Wednesday reads.

The motion to change the name was brought forward by Ward 10 Councillor Sue McFadden, councillor for the area.

She said residents suggested the name of the park condoned drinking and driving and wanted it re-named altogether, without any association to the Muzzo name.

“I couldn’t do that to the (Muzzo) family. Marco Muzzo (senior) was a wonderful man who did a lot for this community," she said. "He donated that park and he would be turning in his grave if he knew what his grandson had done.”

The elder Muzzo, who died in 2005, developed much of Erin Mills and Churchill Meadows and his company dedicated hundreds of acres of parkland and built some 50 parks.

When he died, Mississauga planning consultant John Rogers called Muzzo “an icon” of the development industry.

Councillors last week moved to change the name to Marco Muzzo Senior Memorial Woods and Park and the name change will take effect immediately, after council waived the required 30-day waiting period and community notification process.

The younger Muzzo pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to impaired driving charges causing the deaths of Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, Harrison, 5, Milly, 2, and their grandfather Gary Neville, in a car crash last Sept. 27 in Vaughan. The children's grandmother and great-grandmother were also seriously injured and continue to recover from potentially life-altering injuries.