The petitioner, Donald Jones, is requesting the naming of an unnamed park located at 1000 Bowden Street be named "George Washington Carver Neighborhood Park".

The park located within the Historic Carver Village Neighborhood is bounded by Winburn Street to the north, Allen Avenue on the east, Blun Avenue on the south, and Bowden Street on the west. The park has been called various names throughout its history however it has no official name within City records.

George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. Born into slavery before it was outlawed, Carver left home at a young age to pursue education and would eventually earn a master's degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. He would go on to teach and conduct research at Tuskegee University for decades.

Carver wanted poor farmers to grow other crops, such as peanuts and sweet potatoes, as a source of their own food and to improve their quality of life. The most popular of his 44 practical bulletins contained 105 food recipes using peanuts. Apart from his work to improve the lives of farmers, Carver was also was a leader in promoting environmentalism. He received numerous honors for his work. In an era of high racial polarization, his fame reached beyond the black community. He was widely recognized and appraised in the white community for his many achievements and talents.

The Historic Carver Village Neighborhood Association and Historic Sites and Monuments Commission unanimously approved "George Washington Carver Neighborhood Park" petition.

The petition has met all the requirements of Article E. Naming and Renaming of Public Property, Facilities, and Streets.

Approve