Broadway Park in Benton Harbor will now be known as June Woods Park following a move by city commissioners Monday. Neighbors Organizing Against Racism had proposed renaming the park for Junius Brutus Woods, a former slave who moved to Benton Harbor in the 1870s and later started a nursery. He went on to plant many of the trees in the city. Speaking Monday, Commissioner Juanita Henry said the name change is a way to respect local Black history.
“Any time that we educate ourselves or our children about our existence is good, and Broadway Park is just a street, Broadway Street,” Henry said. “It means nothing to us, but now, June Woods Park means something to us.”
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said many Michigan counties are named for cabinet members of Andrew Jackson, so why can’t Benton Harbor name a park for a former slave who later thrived locally?
“Not only did he plant trees, but he was an entrepreneur, a Black man in business at that time, which was totally taboo,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad said that’s the kind of history children should learn. Junius Woods lived to more than 100 years old and was the owner of Twin City Nurseries. Neighbors Organizing Against Racism says the name change will prompt children who play at June Woods Park to look up local history. The group plans to dedicate a plaque reflecting the name next year.
