Historic WestSide Legacy Park distinguishes South Nevada’s black trailblazers – Las Vegas Review -journal

Visitors walking through the historic Legacy Park Westside in Las Vegas are greeted with immortal images showing the rich black history of the city.

Displays include images of the iconic Moulin Rouge Hotel in their full fame, children competing soap scooters, children playing baseball in DOOLITTLE PARK and boxing legend Mohammed Ali in a starting school, along with Theron Goynes, a veteran advisor and a former advisor Las Vegas, who died, who died, who died, who died, and a former North Las Vegas adviser who died, who died, who died, and a former North Las Vegas adviser who died, who died, who died, who died, who died, who died, who died, who died, who died, who died in northern Las Vegas, who died, who died in northern Las Vegas, who died, who died in northern Las Vegas, who died and a former North Las Vegas adviser, who died in North Las Vegas, Who died in North Las Vegas this week.

Road leads straight to a square with rising gold orbs. A statue of former President Barack Obama sits on a bench.

Plaques in the park honor dozens of black paths, including Larry Boldon, the first deputy chief of police in Las Vegas; Hattie Canty, the first black president of Culinary Union Local 226, and Theron Goynes and Naomi Jackson Goynes, late parents of North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Gines-Brown.

In 2022, Gines-Brown became the first black employee in Nevada, elected to her position, something her father had tried and an achievement that her parents managed to witness.

“It’s just wonderful”

Las Vegas Council Sendra Summers-Armstrong, whose ward covers the historic Westside, recalls that he is visiting the park for the first time.

“I just thought about how incredible there was a place that honors Trailblazers,” said Summers-Armstrong, noting local recognition that goes beyond those of the iconic civil rights movements such as Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

Instead, “many people I have met over the years know their children or people who have had a personal relationship with them,” said the council advisor. “And having a place that is tangible and so close is just wonderful.”

Summers Armstrong was the legal secretary of the late Addeliar Dell Guy III, the first judge of the Black District Court in the history of the country. He is also excellent in the park.

Legacy Park, $ 3.2 million in a joint effort between Las Vegas and Clark County, opened in December 2021.

Former District Commissioner Lawrence Uryni said this week that he was inspired by a similar park in his Alma Matter, Grambling State University. He said he had called the then advisor Cedric Krir and sent him images.

“You have the land, and I have resources,” he remembers a week, telling the advisor. “He said,” Let’s do it. ” And this is done. “

Weekly said the project was “beautiful”, adding that he was grateful that the stories of “people who made such a positive difference in this community” are emphasized.

2025 Honorary

The plaques have a short summary of the achievements of each figure. A committee votes for new names to add every year.

This year’s honors were discovered this month during the African -American American American Services Services in the City Hall.

Willia Mae Chaney, which founded the Expert School of Beauty. She served in the Nevada Education Council, the Housing Council in Nevada and the Regional Banking Committee in South Nevada.

“After 25 years, the examination remains active as the first African-American school of cosmetology in Nevada,” says the city.

Dr. Porter Lee Troutman -Jr., is the first black student to win a doctorate from the University of North Arizona. As a professor of Unlv Emeritus at the College of Education, he founded the Multicultural Education Center.

“Along with his wife, Bobby Jean Tootman, he co-founded the African-American Cultural Service to project the achievements and history of the black community in Las Vegas’s historic Westside,” the city says.

Eve Martin is a philanthropist who has raised over $ 400,000 for scholarships for local students.

“She started her entrepreneurial trip as the owner of three dry cleaning companies, which she operates with her husband Jim Martin,” the city says. She opened and managed three McDonald’s restaurants in Las Vegas.

Beatrice BasseHe who moved to Las Vegas in 1951 graduated from the First Las Vegas Police Administration and became the first black woman officer in Nevada’s history, the city reported.

Later, Dyess continued to win a PhD in the degree of divinity from the Bible Seminary of Kingdom Builders.

“It continues to work and serve our community,” the city said.

Faith Leget He was a history teacher and a basketball coach at Matt Kelly Primary School.

“Leget loved to help students learn and gain appreciation for other people’s cultures by facilitating the annual Food Festival, weaving history and culture together,” says the city.

Their plaques will be installed on April 19.

“A big deal for the black community”

“It’s a big deal here in Las Vegas,” Summers-Armstrong said for the park. “It is a big deal for the black community and the diaspora in the United States to separate this site to honor people who were paths that opened doors to us.”

The advice likes that the new names are added every year, inspiring the younger generations to create their own inheritance.

“It is likely that their names will be there and their grandchildren will see them,” said Summers-Armstrong.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at [email protected].