Local Park Honors Renown Abolitionist

MidPointe’s February #tbt Celebrates Black History Month.

A popular park that opened in Middletown in the 1930s and serves the community to this day bears the name of a former African American slave who became one of the world’s most revered anti-slavery activists.

Douglass Park honors the memory of Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, author, orator and statesman who believed in the equality of all people no matter what their race, gender, or country of origin.

Located along a stretch of Verity Parkway off Minnesota Street, the park was officially named Frederick Douglass Park in 1980. According to local historian Roger Miller, the park’s history dates back to 1932 when land that would become Douglass Park was sold to the city of Middletown by the American Rolling Mill Company (Armco) for the price of one dollar. A pool that opened in 1933 was replaced by another in 1980. That pool was eventually closed and filled in.

Today Douglass Park covers close to 30 acres over two sections and is the location of the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center. It features playground equipment, picnic shelters and grills, garden plots, a splash pad, two basketball courts, a volleyball and tennis court and two football fields.

More historic images of Douglass Park and other Middletown area parks are available at http://www.midpointedigitalarchives.org.