The park was dedicated in 1975 to the memory of the woman who was called the Mother of Miami Beach. From the time Rose ("Rosie") Weiss moved to Miami Beach in 1919 to her death in 1972, she tended to the welfare of every group on the Beach, especially the children. She saw to it that no schoolchild went without lunch, and, in the aftermath of the 1926 hurricane, organized milk deliveries to families with young children.

Rosie attended every city council meeting for 38 years, designed Miami Beach's official flag, fought prejudice, and sold $1 million IS dollars worth of bonds during World War II, more than anyone else in the state. She once claimed to have founded "every organization we have on the Beach." That included Beth Jacob, the first Jewish congregation, which was planned at meetings in her home. She also convinced the city to set aside the land to create the park that they later renamed for her.

Rose Weiss Park is now known as the Washington Park & Community Garden.

Information courtesy of Florida Division of Historical Resources, a division of Florida Department of State.