The City of Zephyrhills will look into renaming Lincoln Heights Park after a former city employee who broke barriers for the African American community.
A request was made by residents of the Lincoln Heights area to rename Lincoln Heights Park to Ellis Harrold Neighborhood Park in honor of Ellis Harrold, the first African American hired by the City of Zephyrhills in 1962. Harrold resided in Zephyrhills since 1957 and was a resident of the Lincoln Heights neighborhood.
Councilman Steve Spina presented the request to members of City Council stating the renaming meets the criteria outlined in the city’s resolution for the naming/renaming of city parks, city facilities and honorary street namings.
Harrold was honored earlier this year by the city and a proclamation presented to him stated that he As “broke barriers that existed at the time and opened doors for other African Americans to work for the City of Zephyrhills.”
Spina’s said in a written request to members of council, “I believe Mr. Ellis Harrold meets the criteria, in breaking the racial barriers of his time, in contributing to the fabric of the community and having support of the neighborhood of which he resides and where the park is located.
City Council approved to convene a Special City Advisory Board to review the request.