Some more photos posted on Instagram.
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Outstanding work here, well thought out and will get some serious use, great great planning and execution.
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Does anyone know why the use of “memorial” is used in some cases and not others? Why is this John Chavis Memorial Park instead of John Chavis Park? Other parks named after long dead people aren’t called memorial parks. For example, neither Pullen nor Umstead are called memorial parks. Maybe it’s just me, but having the word memorial in the name is moribund and doesn’t signal all of the joy and vitality that this park and its facilities will provide to the community. Frankly, it sounds like the name of a cemetery. My guess is that the name will colloquially be shortened by many to just Chavis Park, or John Chavis Park.
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Good question John - I wonder if John Chavis was already dead when they named the park in his honor. I would certainly hope they have some sort of history of Chavis and the park located in a prominent sport. I believe Pullen and Umstead where both alive when the parks were named for them.
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I think that’s why. After all, you don’t build memorials if the person you’re dedicating it to is still alive, just like how Memorial Day is for deceased service(wo)men as opposed to Veterans’ Day. Death doesn’t need to be depressing; there’s a reason why lots of cultures respect processes after death and even treat funerals as parties to celebrate people’s lives. (Plus, no one calls it “Umstead Memorial Park” in casual conversation.)
Richard Stanhope Pullen donated the land where Pullen Park stands today, and Umstead Park was also renamed when the former governor was still alive. John Chavis died in 1838, but the park named in his honor wasn’t built until nearly a century later.
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Thanks @keita for tracking that down and sharing it with us. That was exactly what I was thinking with out the firm evidence, lol.
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Not to pick nits, but Memorial Day is for military personnel who died while performing military duties.
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Oh. I thought it also includes deceased veterans… whoops. Thanks for the correction.
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There’s a separate Veterans’ Day!
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Veteran’s Day is the eleventh of November, which is also Armistice Day, marking the end of WWI - the war to end all wars.
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That was, sadly of course, until the next war.
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Which is now being discussed in some quarters as the second half of the first.
But back to topic. This is looks to be an excellent project, a great civic asset, and a worthy memorial to a no less than a Revolutionary veteran and outstanding contributor to early Raleigh.
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Just a reminder, it opens today!
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The park is really nice 
. I just hope the neighborhoods around it can stay as diverse as they are today.
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They really did a good job with this place. And some great stores and history shared at the ribbon cutting. So cool to hear from those that have lived here for decades.
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I think that’s a valid concern.
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The view from Chavis holds up next to the view from Dix. This is from the second-floor balcony off the community center.
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That’s going to be even a better shot in the fall and winter when all those leaves are gone.
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Now that is a cool looking park!!!
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Saw the city is looking at improvement to the John Top Greene Community Center and “Park”.
I was actually thinking about this site the other day thinking the city could redevelop this with parking on a lower level accessed from East street, a larger community center on a level even with Bloodworth and MLK Jr Blvd, and then 4-5 floors of residential above. Maybe add some outdoor green roof areas if more “park” space is the intent. Addresses a lot of needs on a site with a lot of potential in a prime location.
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