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October/November 24 | maconmagazine.com 35 size. In 2013, Rosa Parks Park became Rosa Parks Square when a couple of parking lots acquired by the City, were turned into additional greenspace. "All of us can exercise the 'power of one' to make good things happen for the bene t of the community. I'll steal that line from Dr. Kirby Godsey," said Mayor Reichert. "And say that is a wonderful monument, not just for Rosa Parks herself, but also to the power of one, and what every single one of us can accomplish if we would just do it." The work didn't stop there. Members of our community came forward and The Friends of Rosa Parks Square was formed, with help from former Macon- Bibb District 9 Commissioner Al Tillman, to design, maintain, operate, and raise funds for the park. During the last ve years, the board made great strides advocating for the park. "It's a space for re ection, remembrance, and unity, and we knew it was worth all of the many years of advocacy and we're so happy to move forward with these renovations," said Cooke. The vision for a prominent civic plaza aligned with the Macon Action Plan over the past decade (see page 36). It was actually envisioned in the original planning document the Urban Development Authority produced in 1978 to guide downtown. "We felt it was important to make sure this greenspace was elevated to its highest potential. In Macon Action Plan, we wanted to make sure this was a place that could be a focal point for events, for gathering – and critically, for protests as well, as it is emblazoned with the name of Rosa Parks," said Director of Planning and Public Spaces and Urban Development Authority Executive Director Alex Morrison. Earlier this year, Mayor Lester Miller brought forward, and the Commission unanimously approved, allocating $2.5 million towards the renovation project, hiring a local, minority- owned contractor Sta ord Builders & Consultants, Inc. "We are grateful to be part of this endeavor, to be part of something so monumental," said CEO Walter Sta ord. "To be standing here today in Rosa Parks' honor to support something like this in our community, it means a very big deal to me." These renovations set to be completed by Spring 2025 are more than just a checked box by the County. When you sit on a new bench at the park that honors Civil Rights leaders and veterans, staring the names of those who came before us, know it took years of work from di erent leaders. These leaders may not always agree on everything, but have the same goal. "Rosa Parks said, 'Memories of our lives, of our works, and our deeds will continue in others,'" said Mayor Miller. "Just like each of us in our lives have a chance to begin work to improve the community and world around us, we also have a chance to pick up where others left o , to take what they started and keep pushing forward." To support park e orts, join the Friends of Rosa Parks Square group on Facebook or donate to the fund held by Community Foundation of Central Georgia. To be standing here today in Rosa Parks' honor to support something like this in our community, it means a very big deal to me. Alex Morrison shows plans from 1978 for a "focal point" plaza in the exact same location. Walter Sta ord of Sta ord Builders & Consultants. Andrea Cooke speaks the chair of the Friends of Rosa Parks Square board with additional board From left: Floyd Gri n, George Fadil Muhammad, Johnny Hollingshed, Clarence Thomas, C. Jack Ellis