Poway council given plans for Tony Gwynn memorial

Plans for a permanent memorial honoring Poway resident and Baseball Hall of Fame member Tony Gwynn will be presented at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Gwynn, a member of the San Diego Padres his entire baseball career, died June 16, 2014 following a battle with cancer. Soon after his death the council expressed an interest in honoring him with some type of memorial. Following an on-line poll posted on the city’s website, the council opted for some kind of monument near the Lake Poway softball field. Staff was left to work on a design and cost estimates.

On Tuesday night the council will review a report recommending placing a large city-owned boulder at one of three candidate spots near the field and installing a granite plaque on it. The cost for purchase of the slab, engraving and installation is estimated at $3,500.

Councilmembers had made it clear that the monument would recognize Gwynn not only as a great athlete but also as a contributor to the Poway community. That is reflected in the proposed wording for the plaque:

“Tony was a loving, devoted family man who dedicated his time and talent for his community. Beyond his Hall of Fame baseball career, he was known for his loyalty, integrity, character, and infectious laugh. Tony called the City of Poway his home for 29 years, and was a mentor, friend, and inspiration for all! He left his mark on the world, his footprint on this community, and his heart on this field.”

The engraving ends with the following quote from author Scott Miller: “There is no replacing the ray of light that was Tony Gwynn.”

On a related front, the office of Assemblyman Brian Maienschein is working on legisation that will name a portion of Interstate 15 near Poway after Gwynn. This is in place of a previous effort to rename the eastern portion of Ted Williams Parkway; an idea that proved to be financially challenging.