Yesterday at John Chavis Memorial Park was about more than just enjoying a day in the sun as the Crosby Advocacy Community Day celebrated history, culture, and the ties that bind a neighborhood together. The event, which ran from morning till afternoon, provided a mix of free food, activities, and resources aimed to bolster families and communities within Wake County, this according to Wake County news release.
The park, with its roots deep in Raleigh’s segregated past, has transformed from a segregated space into a cultural hub, yet this growth is not merely about recreation but also the civilization of space and the unspoken narratives that the soil and the trees hold within their branches and below their roots. Built in 1937 for Black families, and located at 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, the event was a reflection of the enduring spirit and connection of the park to its community, especially at a time when such spaces are increasingly scarce and treasured. During this community day, as Tara Waters from the Wake County Board of Commissioners told Wake County, “Chavis Park isn’t just green space, it’s living history.”
But beyond the community’s current engagement, the park and its adjacent Chavis Heights, Raleigh’s first public housing project for African American families, continue to serve as a physical testament to the resilience and cultural continuity of the generations that have tended and shaped its landscape and spirit. Attendees, while indulging in a cookout, had the opportunity to engage with various projects, sign up for classes and even receive guidance on how to navigate Wake County websites and services to better their neighborhoods and familial lives…