Lakeland to rename athletic complex for brave third grader
The Lakeland Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a first reading to rename the Lakeland Athletic Complex in the 9600 block of Memphis-Arlington Road as the Brody Townsend Athletic Complex.
Brody was a 9-year-old student at Lakeland Elementary School when he died in July 2022 after a fight against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer.
“We just want to say how thankful and humbled we are for this to be considered,” said Brody’s father, Nick Townsend. “Brody loved his friends, and (he) loved sports. So I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than where friends go to play sports.”
The idea was brought forward by Jessica Cannon, whose son participated in athletics with Brody.
“Brody was an inspiring young man whose life and resilience touched many,” she said. “Naming this park would provide a (lasting) tribute to his strength, his love of sports, and the impact he had on the community.”
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Michael Waddell
Michael Waddell is a native Memphian with more than 20 years of professional writing and editorial experience, working most recently with The Daily News and High Ground News.
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