Page 8 - 6-3-16 Friday's Edition

Local
Central Park Reunion Looks To Unite The Old With The New
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In 1954, an area known as “The Scrub” (also the Dust Bowl), northeast of down- town, was the home for a lot of African Americans, some of them future prominent Black business owners.
That same year, The Scrub was razed, and in its place, Central Park Village (CPV) was constructed. It was at the time the premiere public housing complex in the city, second only to the older North Boulevard Homes in West Tampa.
When the 1990s came along, the area was transi- tioned again, and CPV was no more. In its place today is a complex called Encore, consisting of a group of buildings, two named for women who were instru- mental in the area’s history, The Ella (Ella Fitzgerald), and The Reed (Essie Mae Reed).
When Central Park Vil- lage was razed in 2007, many of the original 1954 residents were already gone, and the next generation of CPV residents found them- selves looking for another place to live.
On August 7th, the original CPV residents will be joining the residents who came along much later for a big re- union celebration.
On Monday, June 6th at the Robert Saunders Li- brary, 1505 North Nebraska Avenue, a meeting will be held at 6 p.m. to get this year’s reunion celebration organized. All former CPV residents are asked to please attend.
The organizers of this year’s event recall the first reunion celebration that was hosted by the late Jesse B. “Jet Set” Hudson, whose family was one of the first to move into the new public housing complex.
They promise this year’s
THE SCRUB
THE TEMPO AT ENCORE
Central Park Village, with the down- town Tampa skyline in the background
event will be bigger and bet- ter than any held in the past, and a big dedication cere- mony will be held for all the former residents, who will be asked to share their sto- ries with the younger CPV residents.
Organizers are trying to arrange a meeting with city officials to secure Perry Har- vey, Sr. Park for the celebra- tion in August.
The organizers said they want to show the world how former CPV celebrate, and
they are going to provide symbolic flags and tee- shirts.
Vendors are desperately needed, and for more infor- mation about this reunion, please attend the meeting at the library on June 6th.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2016