Portsmouth City Council members are considering what appear to be some pretty ordinary ordinances at Monday’s meeting. One to rename Buckeye Park and another to name the kayak landing at Alexandria Point.
But there’s a deeper meaning behind both of these plans that ties into Portsmouth’s great comeback plan.
If all goes according to plan, Buckeye Park, which is located near Spartan Stadium, will be renamed Earlytown Park and the kayak landing will be called Burnside Landing at the Point.
The Buckeye Park renaming is a result of a grassroots effort to revive Portsmouth’s East End. Fourth Ward Council Representative Lyvvette Barnes Mosely said she worked with Council Representative Charlotte Gordon and Community Action to help make the dream of a new park for the area a reality.
She said committee members have met monthly with residents to find out what they wanted for their neighborhood, and that included a new park, a community center, and new housing to replace the residences lost to fire and neglect.
Thanks to Community Action acquiring grant money, they were able to redesign and make plans to rebuild Buckeye Park. When it came time to rename the park, many citizens wanted to reach back into the neighborhood’s history when a community named Earlytown existed where the tracks are by the Young Street Viaduct. The railroad claimed eminent domain and took the area to expand the tracks, but the people who lived there never forgot the once vibrant community.
Mosley said construction on the park will begin next year. But locals aren’t waiting for the park to attempt to take back the neighborhood. She praised residents for their efforts to clean up the area and encouraged them to stay strong and not hesitate to call the police if they see anything suspicious. “You’re paying taxes for them to do their job.”
The kayak landing honors local attorney Jeremy Burnside who tragically died at the age of 44. Burnside was one of the founding members of The Friends of Portsmouth and championed the redevelopment of the city and taking advantage of the many recreational activities in Scioto County.
