The parklet, at 401 S. James St., is dedicated to honor Goldsboro’s historic James and Pine Black Business District which “was a major center of Black economic, cultural, and social life from roughly the 1920s through the 1970s, during segregation, when Black residents built a self-sustaining commercial district that served as a hub for entrepreneurship, community gathering, and empowerment,” according to the event program.

The project is meant to be a “living park” to honor the legacy that was left behind by the Black business owners and community leaders who built the district into a place for the community to gather.

Councilwoman Hiawatha Jones and Barabara Dantonio, James and Pine Black Business District Committee chair, introduced the work completed by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. Design Committee, Bill Ellis of Playtime Installers who designed the park and the city for the installation and planning support.

Continued efforts to capture the heritage and stories, and identify future funding will be carried out by the James and Pine Black Business District Committee, according to organizers.

The committee will work to preserve the history of the district, develop a storytelling place to tell the history of the district, and revitalize the area to support new Black-owned businesses in the future.

The main strategic plan is to preserve and honor historic legacy, educate and inspire future generations, promote community-centered economic revitalization, strengthen community identity and pride, encourage community engagement and storytelling, and integrate the district into broader community development, according to the event program.

The memorial park is envisioned as an outdoor museum, featuring stories, artifacts, and educational displays about the district’s past.

The park is a cornerstone of Black heritage in Goldsboro and part of a broader movement to highlight contributions from the Black community in the area, according to the program.

People wanting to be included in the park can purchase a brick for $100 in which their name will be custom engraved and installed at the park in celebration of families, businesses and community history.

Erin Fonseca, Goldsboro Downtown Development director, cut the ribbon on the park surrounded by residents and local leaders.