HENDERSON, KY, – The City of Henderson has been awarded a $245,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for the purpose of upgrades to Anthony Brooks Park.
Potential plans for the park include the addition of a splash pad, upgraded playground equipment and play surfacing.
Anthony Brooks Park, located at 817 Madison Street, is named for local civil rights activist Rev. Anthony Brooks Sr. A minister for over 50 years at Seventh Street Baptist Church, he served as president of both the Henderson and Evansville chapters of the NAACP as well as the vice president of the Kentucky NAACP during the 1960s. Rev. Brooks marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Frankfort and Louisville and locally he organized sit-in campaigns to integrate Henderson restaurants.
He passed away at the age of 86 in September 2020.
Last year a group of local residents (including family members of Rev. Brooks) came to the City and asked for upgrades and renovations to the park. They told the story of Rev. Brooks life and requested the quality of the park reflect the many contributions he made to the Henderson community.
“Our family is grateful for the efforts of the officials and citizens of Henderson upgrading the Anthony Brooks Park,” shared Rev. Adrian Brooks Sr. “It will insure that this fitting memorial and recreational area continues to honor this civil rights activist, educator, and community pastor. It makes us all proud to watch Henderson embrace his legacy of service.”
City officials expect the renovations to take place over a period of 2-3 years. The remainder of 2024 will be used to finalize designs for the park with hopes for a groundbreaking in 2025. The City of Henderson
will match the funds awarded by the LWCF grant.
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