Dear Editor,
Thank you to the 200-plus people who joined Saturday’s march and rally for Jimmy Davis Park. The turnout is a testament to the importance of the park for the East Eatonton community, to the years of pent-up frustration as officials let JDP fall derelict, and to a new sense of hope now the county has begun repairs.
Thank you to Gerald Griggs, president of the NAACP (Ga.) for leading the march through the streets and for his rousing speech on the courthouse steps. Thank you to all the members of the Jimmy Davis family who were there. In her speech, Cynthia Davis told the crowd that her father would be proud of everyone present.
Thank you to Pastor Troy Daniel, former president of the Putnam County Chapter of the NAACP, for leading the prayers and serving as MC for the day. And thank you to Patricia Hurt for her reminder that everyone in the community (not just county staff) is responsible for the park and that the park belongs to everyone in Putnam County.
Thank you to Brandon Riley for his account of what the park meant to him growing up and thank you to 10-year-old London Bonner for reading out a list of what the community wants to see at JDP.
Thank you to Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp for his encouraging words to those assembled, underlining the county’s renewed commitment to the park; and thank you to Commissioner Daniel Brown for his attendance.
Everyone left the event feeling positive about the future of Jimmy Davis Park. In recent weeks, the county has made a great start addressing some of the most glaring problems and has publicized more work to come.
Members of the Save Jimmy Davis Park Committee – and other members of the community – are ready to partner with the county to get this done and bring back Jimmy Davis Park. We all want a safe, engaged, happy community. A broken-up, ramshackle Jimmy Davis Park bred disrespect and disillusionment. A revived JDP is an investment that will pay dividends many times over.
Finally, thank you to the Save Jimmy Davis Park Committee members for their hard work and dedication: Annie Bishop, Annette Bullard, Karen Evans, Patricia Hurt, Lucinda Monday, and Rev. Thedora Sneed.
Sincerely, Rino Boles (president) and Richard Garrett (vice-president) Save Jimmy Davis Park Committee