By David Pendered
In 2017, the Rev. Darrion Fletcher died during his campaign for the Atlanta City Council post held by Ivory Lee Young, Jr. On Tuesday, Young continued his effort to honor Fletcher by naming a playing field for him in Vine City Park. Young also proposes to rename the entire park for a well-regarded urban planner, June Mundy.
The naming efforts are part of a broader movement in the Westside neighborhoods to retain portions of their history as the area is redeveloped at a quick pace. Vine City Park is two blocks south of Historic Mims Park, which is to honor Civil Rights leaders once it’s complete.
The city council’s Community Development Committee approved both of the naming proposals on Tuesday and forwarded them to the Transportation Committee, which is to consider them at its meeting Wednesday.
There is some question about the ownership of a portion of the Vine City Park that city officials are researching.
Fletcher, 54, died on Sept. 25, 2017. Young went on to defeat one challenger and is serving in his fourth term.
The legislation Young introduced is effusive about Fletcher and his service in the community. The paper observes that Fletcher received both a proclamation and Phoenix Award from then Mayor Kasim Reed. Fletcher’s other awards include an Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award from the Georgia Secretary of State and a Community Service Award from Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas (D-Atlanta).
The legislation observes:
- “WHEREAS, his advocacy led to the continued development of Vine City Park; and
- “WHEREAS, he sponsored many community events in Vine City park, including one of the first youth health fairs which focused on healthy foods and healthy living for young people; and
“WHEREAS, Revered Fletcher was educated in the Atlanta Public School system and graduated from J.E. Brown High School, obtained a Divinity Degree from Carver College and founded the “Walking through Vine” outreach Ministry; and
Young’s legislation to rename all of Vine City Park as June Elois Mundy Park lauds her work to promote homes that are affordable to folks earning the salary of schoolteachers, and her service in then-Mayor Andrew Young’s administration:
- “WHEREAS, June Elois Mundy was a highly respected urban design scholar who used her extraordinary expertise to preserve vital communities in the City of Atlanta; and
- “WHEREAS, armed with her master’s degree in Urban Planning June Elois Mundy helped design towns in Nigeria and Egypt and used her urban planning skills to benefit other urban cities before relocating to Atlanta in 1982, to serve on former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young’s Design Commission: and
“WHEREAS, June Elois Mundy was a staunch supporter of affordable housing, advocated for displaced seniors and preached new urbanism before new urbanism was cool; she supported the design of communities where the people were the priority, by providing access to civic, cultural and recreational facilities, green space, shopping and easy, access to other amenities; and
The Atlanta City Council could vote on the proposals as early as May 7. The vote could be delayed pending the answer into the question of the ownership issue.
