Following up on its proclamation last week, the city of Gainesville unveiled the dual-named sign for Dylan Roberts Road and NE 26th Terrace on Friday morning.
“This is the day I’ve been waiting for—and many more to come,” said Megan Durant, Roberts’ mother.
Four-year-old Dyan Roberts died in 2021 when a car hit him on University Avenue, returning home from Fred Cone Park. Through a combined city and state partnership, the Florida Department of Transportation has installed a pedestrian crosswalk.
As cars zipped past, Mayor Harvey Ward said officials would continue to follow through with efforts to increase pedestrian safety throughout the city and especially on University Avenue.
“City government moves slowly; state government moves slowly. But watch what we do next,” Ward said to Roberts’ family members.
Gainesville Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker noted roadway improvements that have happened in her district. She said she would strive to reduce the speed on University Avenue along that stretch.
While cars need to get places efficiently, she said, slowing down the speed a little could save lives.
“While this, as I said, is not the ideal thing we would be doing today, it is the right thing to do to commemorate the life of Dylan, but also looking forward with hope,” Duncan-Walker said.
Another sign will also commemorate SE 26th Terrace as Dylan Roberts Road.
The city and Alachua County have both sent requests to the state to also name the crosswalk in honor of Roberts, with an official sign on University Avenue.
