Ribbon cutting celebrates opening of newly built pocket park bringing music, art and life to downtown Scottsboro
Story By Hunter Jones
On a cloudy Thursday night, a crowd gathers at the newly built pocket park on the square in Scottsboro. The pocket park is located by Variety Bake Shop and Safety First Services stands where a parking lot once stood. In a matter of over six months, the parking lot transformed into a gated area, complete with a fountain, green space, covered seating, a small stage and a roofed structure where performers can control their sound. On the once plain walls sit murals on each side, displaying musicians, dancing as well as the name of the park and faces behind it: Two Sisters Square, named after Jessie Sue and Lucy Bynum.
The art was all painted by Donald Walker, who was asked to ‘bring some color’ to the plain walls.
“They did not want it to look boring. We wanted to emphasize the artistic side of the park, so music, writing, art, that kind of thing. Those are the instructions they gave me and they turned me loose,” Walker said.
Throughout the walls, music notes are painted throughout, that Walker believes should be real songs. One is supposed to be “Green, Green Grass of Home”, written by Claude “Curly” Putman Jr., and sang by Johnny Darrell in 1965 while another song is “My Home’s in Alabama” by Alabama. Walker is pleased with the final product, enjoying the way it all came together and appreciating the freedom he was given.
“It was a pleasure to work in Scottsboro and with all the people in this project, they made it easy for me,” Walker said.
With the completion of a project first talked about nearly three years ago, the stage is finally and literally set. Main Street Scottsboro Executive Director Julia Whitehead called Two Sisters Square the perfect reflection of Main Street’s mission, transforming the underutilized space into “something vibrant, welcoming and full of life.”
“This park has been a long dream for Downtown Scottsboro and today we celebrate the dream becoming a reality,” Whitehead said.
Whitehead then thanks all who helped contribute to this dream, including the Bynum Foundation, Downtown Scottsboro Board of Directors, Downtown Scottsboro Design Committee, Robinson-Waldrop Landscaping, Scottsboro Mayor Jim McCamy and the city council for their support throughout this project, calling city leaders “true partners” and thanking them once again for their trust to allow Main Street to steward the park.
McCamy said that he sees downtown business owners as the winners of this newest addition to the city, thanking all those involved for making this project happen.
Lastly, Jeremy Robinson of Robinson-Waldrop Landscaping spoke a bit about the project itself, noting that while there were some struggles with the project, Robinson never had a problem with receiving help, saying that they would receive help within 10 to 15 minutes of calling.
“Every utility board represented in the city of Scottsboro were sitting in that parking lot and asked what they could do to help us. I want you to understand something, that doesn’t happen anywhere,” Robinson said.
Robinson recalls first meeting some of the ladies behind this project, saying that they had ‘no idea’ what they were getting into with this project. While Robinson believed the idea they had was beautiful, the funding was not near where it needed to be for this project to get off the ground three years ago. While Robinson knew the work it would take to start the work, Robinson stayed involved, believing in their ability to get this project to happen.
Robinson then thanked everyone involved with this project, noting that projects like this require leadership from top to bottom and thanking the people who would never be recognized for digging through the ground, shoveling dirt and even the lady who cleaned the new bathrooms two hours before the opening.
“Those are the kind of people that make all of us look good every single day,” Robinson said.
Robinson also spoke on the love that has been put into this project, saying that there are skyscrapers in New York City that don’t have the love put into it as this pocket park.
“There is love here and love is what brings communities together,” Robinson said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that with the right leadership, this can be a starting point of a great thing for a great city. (Knowing) the people that I have met here, I know that the leadership will get there.”
