A Benton Harbor Park has a fresh, new face—and it will soon have a new name.
Neighbors Organizing Against Racism, Whirlpool Corporation and The City of Benton Harbor are paying homage to the history of the city by improving the Park. On August 20th, the City will be officially dedicating and renaming Broadway Park as ‘June Woods Memorial Park.’
The park name was changed when Neighbors Organizing Against Racism went before the City of Benton Harbor to seek approval of the name change in September of 2022.
Neighbors Organizing Against Racism partnered with Whirlpool Corp. for the corporation’s annual community Day of Impact in June to improve and upgrade the park including replacing basketball hoops, installing a turf field, upgrading the play areas, and repainting all the surfaces.
“We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy the all amazing upgrades and restoration Whirlpool provided at the newly re-named June Woods Park. This will be a day of fun and celebration for the whole community,” says Trenton Bowens, N.O.A.R. Founder and Executive Director. “N.O.A.R has been fortunate to have such a great community partner in the Whirlpool Corporation in working alongside the City of Benton Harbor since we formed in 2020. That strengthened relationship has enabled a lot of great work.”
June Woods was a slave who escaped slavery during the civil war and became a small business owner in Benton Harbor. He was responsible for planting trees in Benton Harbor and throughout Southwest Michigan. Woods is currently buried at Crystal Springs Cemetery with no tombstone. Neighbors Organizing Against Racism is working with an anonymous donor to place a tombstone.
The ribbon cutting and park dedication will take place on Sunday August 20th 2023 at 3:00pm at 980 Broadway, Benton Harbor. The event is part of a community fun day taking place at the park with a basketball tournament, food and refreshments, face painting for the kids and a dunk tank.
Stay up to date on activities with Neighors Organizing Against Racism at their Facebook page.
