Park dedication postponed today

By Charles Sercombe
An apparent all-day rain has caused the postponement of today’s (Friday, June 25) dedication of the city’s newest park.
No new date for the dedication has been set yet.
The new park is named after Sarah Sims Garrett, who was the lead plaintiff of the African-American residents who sued the city over a housing discrimination matter that occurred in the 1960s.
According to a city press release: “The City has worked to remedy the harm it caused by publicly acknowledging its wrongful actions, by providing affordable housing to plaintiff families, and by establishing this park in recognition of the African American community of Hamtramck.”
Mayor Karen Majewski also addressed the issue, saying:
“The justice our Hamtramck African American community deserves is long overdue. We hope this park can be an everlasting memory to those who dedicated their lives to the struggle for social justice.”
Speaking for the plaintiffs, Vera Burk, of the Grand Haven-Dyar-Dequindre Corporation, said:
“We’re happy to finally close this chapter on our unfortunate history. This park allows us to begin anew, and to never forget our brothers and sisters who delivered us justice.”
The address for the park is 11369 Dequindre, which is the service drive for southbound I-75.
Overflow parking is available at the nearby Corinthian Baptist Church.
The Sarah Sims Garrett Discrimination Case began after the forced removal of primarily African American residents during the construction of the I-75 Freeway.
Posted June 25, 2021