Memorial Field has been a point of consternation for both city officials and residents alike for years, as the once vibrant park continues to deteriorate. A renovation was a promise from Mount Vernon Mayor Davis upon his reelection six years ago, though very little progress has been made at the space.
Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Williams (D-Mount Vernon) and several city dignitaries, including the legislator and the Rev. Ed Mulraine, will express their concerns for the field and stress the importance of the renovations.
The city officials will then lead a march from Memorial Field to Mulraine’s Unity Baptist Tabernacle Church on South Second Avenue, where “Unity in the Community” will kick off with a block party featuring food and entertainment until 6 p.m.
Each year, “Unity in the Community” focuses on a particular concern that Mount Vernon faces, while bringing residents together to celebrate their city. In recent years, social injustice and Fourth Street Park have been the concentration of the event, which is co-sponsored by several Mount Vernon churches and congregations.
Memorial Field, which was built in the late 1920s, has been out of commission for several years. In its prime, it was one of the most prominent and highly populated parks in the area.
In calling residents to his cause, Williams said that it’s important to get the park up and running so that Mount Vernon children can be taken off the street.
“Memorial Field can once again be a great place for young men and women throughout the county who enjoy athletics and outdoor recreation,” he said. “Moving forward with a renovation project makes sense in so many ways. Athletics keep young people off the streets and the work will create good jobs. “
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