Concerned that the city is considering tearing down the Duckworth Center and walling another smaller structure in, a group of citizens has organized in hopes of helping the city save the structure and expand the park.
Chanie Cherry addressed the Columbia Board of Aldermen May 2, informing them that a new group, The Cleveland J. Duckworth Park Revitalization Committee, had been formed. Cherry and the Rev. Darrick McGowan spoke to the Board and about 15 other members of the committee were in attendance.
The Board approved allowing the committee to pursue grants and funding for work at the Duckworth Center. The Board will receive periodic updates from the group.
Cherry gave a brief history of the park.
“Mr. Duckworth was the principal at John J. Jefferson School in Columbia in the 1950s,” she said. “He was also president of the Mississippi Teachers’ Association. He saw the need for families in Columbia and Marion County to have a place where they could enjoy civic and recreational outdoor activities, so he donated property to the city of Columbia. In 1962, the Cleveland J. Duckworth Center and Park was dedicated.”
Cherry thanked the city for overseeing the maintenance and funding for the center and park.
“We also know that Rev. Larry Jenkins is responsible for overseeing activities in the park and events held there. We want to thank him for a successful baseball and softball program,” she said. “Professional football player Mr. Claudis Ray James, a native of Columbia, who played football for the Green Bay Packers, spent his off-seasons volunteering his service to the children of Columbia. In 1996, Claudis Ray James Field was dedicated by the Duckworth baseball and softball league.”
Cherry said the group was concerned by discussions the city had about tearing down the original Duckworth Center and replacing it.
She said Duckworth Park has been registered with the National Park Service, Department of Interior since 1965.
“The Cleveland J. Duckworth Center and Park is historically significant to the city of Columbia because in the 1950s an African-American educator recognized the important need for our families to have a place to gather for fun, fitness and recreation,” she said. “We are here today to go on record to say that we do not want the Duckworth Center torn down.”
Funds could be sought to help restore the center and correct the city’s concerns, according to Cherry.
“We want to help revitalize this park and make it a more viable part of our community,” she said. “Duckworth Center is a civic center that hosts different types of events in our city. When visitors come to our city, they eat at our restaurants, stay at our hotels and shop in our stores. Duckworth Center can seat about 75 people or more. The inside has been renovated and it is structurally sound. The reason we believe it is structurally sound is that it withstood Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Camille and it has never flooded. It is capable of attracting different companies and organizations that need a facility to hold training, workshops and other events.”
Cherry said a recent forum conducted by the Mississippi State Department of Health pointed out the importance of centers such as Duckworth for the residents.
“Mayor, you spoke about trying to find out what is working well for our community and what is not,” she said. “It’s about sharing and exchanging ideas and looking at what we can do to make the city of Columbia a healthier and vibrant city.”
McGowan showed pictures from the Duckworth Center and Duckworth Park to the Board as he spoke. He told the Board that the current center is 3,200 square feet and the city’s plans were to have a smaller center totaling 2,008 square feet. McGowan said the group was planning to have an engineer or inspector look at the building.
“From what we’ve gathered so far, it’s structurally sound,” he said. “Having worked in construction and renovation, as soon as you enter the building, you know it is structurally sound. The floors and ceiling are perfectly level. There are no weak spots in the floor.”
He spoke with the Board about the difference in size if the current structure were to be torn down and what it would take to bring it back to pristine shape.
“This building is too great of a jewel to be destroyed,” McGowan said. “It would cost much more to erect another building or to enclose that pavilion that is next door that to renovate this building.”
The major concerns involve moving the air conditioners and vandalism to the exterior, including siding damage and window damage. McGowan said the vinyl siding needed to be replaced and would only cost about $3,000 to replace.
The Board and committee discussed funding options, including seeking grants from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History because of its significance.
“We need community partnership to make this a success,” McGowan said. “We can save a jewel in the Columbia and Marion County area. It can be a shiny jewel.”
Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond urged the group to continue its efforts.
“The same attention that the City Park gets needs to be given to Duckworth,” he said.
Mayor Justin McKenzie commended the group for taking action to defend the park.
“The city is willing to do its part,” he said.
Pictured Above: The Rev. Darrick McGowan addressed the Columbia Board of Aldermen about the fate of the Duckworth Center. | Photo by Mark Rogers
