Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 10-11-19

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019
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Old West Hyde Park Family And Friends Day
The Old West Hyde Park Community celebrated the third Family and Friends Day on August 17, 2019. The event was held at the Charles Davis Conference Center, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Those in attendance enjoyed meeting old friends, good food and sharing old memories.
7th Annual Central Park Village Reunion Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For decades, the now historic Cen- tral Park Village was home to thou- sands of residents in Tampa. However, in 2007, the public housing complex was closed and its residents relocated. But, many of those who lived there want to stay connected to former neighbors and friends.
On Sunday, October 27th, organiz- ers will once again host their Annual Central Park Village Reunion & Dance. The event will take place at Rowlett Park, Shelter #218, from 12 noon until 7:30 p.m. The theme this year is, “It Takes A Village.”
The event will also feature enter- tainment, family-oriented activities, and health information as well as food and drinks.
The organizers will also host an Old Skool CPV Dance. It will take place at Tampa Park Plaza Commu- nity Center, on November 9, 2019.
Reunion organizer, Ali Muham- mad (Clarence Jones) said, “For- mer residents of Central Park Village got together with me taking the lead from the late Jet Set Hudson, Ruth Jenkins, and others to continue the legacy of keeping the Reunions suc- cessful today. The reunions have be-
ALI MUHAMMAD Reunion Organizer
come a great opportunity for former residents to meet again, especially those who were among the first fami- lies to occupy the complex."
About Central Park
According to the organization’s website, freed slaves founded the Scrubs in the late 1800s. In 1891, res- idents constructed their own church, the St. James Episcopal Church with $100 of building supplies the resi-
The Central Park Village Public Housing Complex was “home” to thousands of families between 1954 and 2007.
dents had saved up. Soon, the area built a school and a repository.
It had become home to approxi- mately 21,000 African Americans by the 1920s. It bordered Central Av- enue, the main strip for African Americans of the time.
The African American population in this area became self-sufficient over the years. They built and opened shops, stores, clubs, restaurants, the- aters, hotels, and more on Central Av- enue.
Eventually, the area underwent re- construction. In 1954, the first fami- lies moved into the newly constructed Central Park Village Public Housing Complex. Families continued to live in the complex for the next 53 years until they were uprooted and relo- cated to make way for The Encore.
Anyone wishing to obtain addi- tional information can reach Muhammad at (813) 451-0806; Reggie at (813) 325-2937; or visit www.centralparkreunion.webs.com.