FLINT, Michigan — Forty years after first being designated a historic district and in recognition of its centennial celebration, the Civic Park neighborhood will re-dedicate its historical marker this week.
A brief ceremony is planned for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 2019, at the 1325 W Dayton St. The sign was re-installed earlier this year after being destroyed when it was hit by a car or snowplow. The re-dedication ceremony is an official recognition of its installation and an opportunity to celebrate the storied neighborhood, said City Councilman Maurice Davis, who represents the 2nd Ward and owns a business on the edge of the Civic Park neighborhood.
“It’s very important,” said City Councilman Maurice Davis “It puts our identity back. This is where it all started.”
Related story: Civic Park launches centennial celebration
Davis also thanked the University of Michigan-Flint History Department for spearheading the effort and raising the money needed to replace the sign. Even before it was destroyed, the sign was showing its years of wear and tear, he said.
Civic Park is traditionally considered the neighborhood north of Welch Boulevard between Dupont Street and Brownell Boulevard. The neighborhood was built by General Motors and completed in 1919 to house the massive influx of workers drawn here by automotive and industrial jobs.
The National Register of Historic Places designated it a historic district in 1979, although large portions of it were later stripped of the designation after a determination that many structures lacked historic integrity.
The neighborhood and its community groups have made a concerted effort in recent years to bring the community together and bring investment back — including the addition of a new annual celebrations and community events each year, Davis said.
For more information, check out the
Facebook event for the rededication ceremony.
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