2 Pima Butte students collect signatures for Tommy Fitzgerald memorial

When Suzie Swaffield’s 10-year-old daughter Kacie becomes passionate about something, there’s no stopping her.

“Once she gets her mind set on something, she doesn’t quit,” Swaffield said.

About three weeks ago, Kacie, along with fellow Pima Butte Elementary School classmate Sydney McDill, 11, began collecting signatures in support of creating a memorial or naming a baseball field after Tommy Fitzgerald, a 12-year-old little league player who died in August.

Tommy, a family friend of the Swaffield’s, attended Pima Butte Elementary School before moving to Gilbert with his family in December. He died from a staph infection after receiving a knee wound while playing baseball.

Swaffield said her daughter’s mission began after reading an InMaricopa.com article that described the city’s concerns of naming individual fields in local parks.

Councilwoman Julia Gusse, who knew Tommy’s family, suggested naming a field after the boy at Pacana Park where he used to play. The suggestion was discussed at a subcommittee meeting last month. Since city policy does not address the naming of individual fields within parks, Maricopa leaders plan to take a closer look at how to handle future suggestions of honoring deceased individuals within public spaces.

“We do understand that this is all new to the (city),” Swaffield said. “We think (Tommy’s) worth opening that can of worms.”

Council members will discuss the issue at a Strategic Planning Retreat that will take place in either October or November. A specific date for the retreat has not been set.

City leaders have not discarded the idea of naming a field or creating some type of memorial for Tommy. Gusse’s suggestion spurred the discussion of drafting a naming policy. City staff also was concerned about naming sports fields at the city’s Copper Sky Recreation Complex, scheduled to open next spring.