Several decisions were made regarding aesthetic features of Carrboro’s new Martin Luther King Jr. Park at a recent Board of Aldermen meeting. Along with approving four high-school finalists to paint the two murals in the park, the board also approved of three of the eight quotes to be featured on placards along the park’s walking trail.

Several board members expressed concern over the town’s Parks and Recreation Department being the only group deciding which quotes will be chosen. Among them was Alderwoman Barbara Foushee, who said she wants to make sure Dr. King is honored in his totality.

“This is nothing against the Parks and Rec Commission and their work,” she said. “Diversity is important, and there were important voices missing from the table and from this selection process, so I would like to recommend that we get some substitutions for some of them in order to get at the full energy of who Dr. King really was.”

The board recommended that the town’s youth advisory board, the local NAACP’s youth committee and the full local NAACP chapter be involved in deciding on the last five quotes. Alderwoman Bethany Chaney said she believes hearing from more voices will increase the reach and meaningfulness of the quotes selected.

“It’s not very clear whether we’ve had full participation in identifying the quotes that are most meaningful to a broad sector of the community,” she said at the meeting. “I’m troubled by that, and I’m not sure we’re a broad sector of the community.”

Involving several additional youth-led groups is yet another way the town is involving young people in the design of Martin Luther King Jr. Park, after deciding to commission four young artists as the muralists following a contest of mural designs. The board voted to allow all four designs to be used, finding ways to combine the four submissions into two murals.

The town plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 20, 2020.

Photo via Town of Carrboro.

Related Stories
‹
Sidewalk Repair Project Will Improve 25 Carrboro Streets
A $75,000 sidewalk repair project is ongoing now in Carrboro to fix damage and improve accessibility for those with mobility issues.
Murals Completed at Carrboro's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
After months of work, two murals at the Town of Carrboro’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park have been completed. The town shared a release on Friday saying the artwork has been installed, with both pieces being directly inspired by and featuring Dr. King’s quotes and image. The artwork was designed by three local high […]
Carrboro Cuts the Ribbon on New Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park
Hundreds of Carrboro residents and community members gathered on Monday to celebrate the official opening of a new town park. The ribbon cutting ceremony was the culmination of planning that spanned over two decades for building the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The land, located at 1120 Hillsborough Road in Carrboro, was purchased by […]
Carrboro Board of Aldermen Changes Title to Town Council
Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen passed a resolution to change its title to Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday November 19.*** After being known as the Board of Aldermen for 50 years, the elected officials for Carrboro’s governing board are slated to change its name at their Tuesday meeting to a more inclusive title. […]
Deadline Nears for Carrboro's Martin Luther King Jr Mural Contest
The town of Carrboro is looking for community input ahead of the creation of two murals in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park. It is seeking high school students’ submissions for mural designs and community ideas for quotes from Dr. King to be featured in the park. The deadline for both is Friday November 1. For […]
Construction on New Carrboro Roundabout To Begin in August
A major road project thought to be delayed is set to begin construction in Carrboro, just weeks before students are moving back to the area for the fall semester. The town announced Tuesday that the construction on the Estes Drive/North Greensboro Street roundabout would begin on August 5. Construction of a roundabout on South Greensboro […]
Public Works to Affect Traffic on Jones Ferry Road Next Week
A Carrboro Public Works Department project to remove a failing retaining wall will affect traffic on Jones Ferry Road between Monday, April 7 and Friday, April 11, the town said earlier this week. During the extent of the work, traffic on the road will be controlled by flaggers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with […]
Carrboro: Inclusive Engagement, Affordable Housing and A Walkable Weaver Street Event
Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Friday, April 4.
Carrboro Police: Suspect Sought in Armed Carjacking
The Carrboro Police are actively seeking a suspect in an armed carjacking which occurred Wednesday evening. According to a release from the police department, the carjacking occurred in a private parking lot in the 200 block of Roberson Street at around 5 p.m. Police say the victim was sitting in their vehicle, a gold 2008 […]
Carrboro Named Finalist in All-America City Competition for 'Outstanding' Civic Engagement
The Town of Carrboro is a finalist for the National Civic League's annual All-America City Award, as announced on Wednesday.
›