Danny Donovan To Have Street Named In His Honor

Danny Donovan was a valued volunteer for Safety Harbor Little League for more than 20 years.

The 58-year-old did everything from lining the fields to ordering the uniforms and, according to officials, he played a pivotal role in the day-to-day workings of the league.

So when Donovan passed away suddenly in a dugout at the City Park field on March 11, the league, and the entire community, was shocked and saddened by the tremendous loss.

On Monday night, at the urging of the league, the Safety Harbor City Commission decided to honor Donovan by renaming a stretch of 7th Avenue along the park in his name and also by dedicating the park itself in his honor.

"Danny Donovan did it all down at the ball fields...and then he would stand back in the shadows and let the kids have fun," City Manager Matt Spoor said.

"Whenever they tried to acknowledge him, he never wanted it, and that's what true leaders do."

Spoor went on to explain that the league wanted to do something to recognize Donovan's contributions, so they submitted a request to rename a section of South Railroad Avenue from 7th Street South to Alligator Lake 'Danny Donovan Drive' and dedicate City Park "to the memory and service of Danny Donovan."

He also pointed out that while every other section of the park has been dedicated in some fashion, the park itself had not.

Mayor Joe Ayoub readily agreed with the request.

"I like honoring people who don't look for the spotlight...and really kind of shy away from attention," the mayor said. "So I think this is very appropriate given how hard he has worked and given how much he's contributed to the ball fields."

"This is the kind of example of people I like to recognize, so I'm in favor of the Little League's request."

The commission then voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve the league's request.

According to Spoor, the Donovan dedication ceremony will take place during the league's closing ceremonies sometime in May.

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