Dream of North Carolina Freedom Monument Park Closer to Becoming Reality

The Board of Directors of the North Carolina Freedom Monument Park (NCFMP) announced that the Council of State approved the lease agreement for the Park’s location at the corner of Wilmington and Lane Streets, one of downtown Raleigh’s most important parcels of land. Board co-chairs James W. Clark, Ph.D., and Goldie Frinks Wells, Ed.D. said that the formal agreement enables NCFMP to ramp up its campaign to build a public art park that will tell the story of freedom through the African American experience. The NCFMP will acknowledge and celebrate the struggles of all people to be free.

“We already had approval from the North Carolina Historical Commission and the NC Capital Planning Commission, so we are pleased to have this final step in the approval process behind us as well. Over the last eight months, we have made significant progress toward our goals. Now we are better positioned to move forward with this important project,” said Clark, professor emeritus, NC State University.  Frinks Wells, former Greensboro City Councilperson and current director of the Charles Harrison Mason Jurisdictional Institute of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., summarizes the progress, saying  “Since joining NCFMP last October, Executive Director Dianne Pledger has recruited a highly talented Campaign Leadership Committee, obtained major contributions and pledges, written several grants, secured a Durham office location through the sponsorship of a major donor, and revitalized the NCFMP campaign materials. We needed the combination of know-how and energy Dianne brings in order to move NCFMP out of the planning stage and into action.”

Plans to kick-off the public phase of the campaign in 2013 are in place, and range from grass-roots forums to high profile, black tie events in order to appeal to a broad range of people. When completed, the NCFMP will combine stone markers, sculpted granite forms, walkways and fountains with natural features and cultured plantings to create a transformational sensory experience.