After years of championing Palm Beach County’s park expansions and land preservation, term limited county commissioners Burt Aaronson and Karen Marcus were honored Tuesday by having their names added to two prime pieces of public real estate.
The county renamed two parks after Aaronson and Marcus the same day term limits forced them from office.
The more than 800-acre park west of Boca Raton that features an amphitheater, golf course and dog park that Aaronson pushed for was renamed Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park.
“I don’t get choked up that much, but today I am so honored that I really am choked up,” said Aaronson, 84. “It’s better to hear your eulogy while you are alive.”
Likewise 164 acres previously known as the Diamond Head property that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to A1A was renamed Karen Marcus Ocean Preserve.
“I’m honored and humbled,” said Marcus, 60.
Aaronson, a Democrat who represented southern Palm Beach County, first was elected in 1992.
During his time on the commission, Aaronson founded the Palm Beach International Film Festival, helped stop controversial plans for a new landfill west of Boca Raton, advocated the spread of lighted street signs, supported rules linking school capacity to allowing new development and was the chief advocate for creating new recreation attractions at South County Regional Park.
Marcus, a Republican who represented northern Palm Beach County, was first elected in 1984.
Marcus became a champion for protecting northern Palm Beach County’s coastline from
overdevelopment, pushing to acquire land for new beachfront parks. Marcus helped bring more than 1,400 acres of parks and recreation areas to her North County district.
Marcus and Aaronson both supported the $100 million bond referendum to buy and preserve farmland in the Agricultural Reserve, west of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.
Shortly after Aaronson and Marcus received their accolades, their newly elected successors Mary Lou Berger and Hal Valeche took the oath of office.
