John Chavis Memorial Park facts for kids
John Chavis Memorial Park, often called Chavis Park, is a fun public park in Raleigh, North Carolina. It covers almost 29 acres and is close to Shaw University. The park first opened in 1937. On its very first day, many people came from all over North Carolina to visit! Its most famous attraction is a historic carousel.
Chavis Park is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's an important historical site.
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History of Chavis Park
Chavis Park is named after John Chavis. He was a free Black educator, a minister, and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. In 1808, John Chavis opened his first school. This school was located very close to where the park is today.
The park was built in 1937. Money for the park came from a government program called the Works Progress Administration. At that time, there were unfair laws called Jim Crow laws that separated people by race. The park was built to be a "separate but equal" place for Black Americans. This was because another park nearby, Pullen Park, did not allow Black Americans to use all its facilities, like the swimming pool.
When Chavis Park opened in 1938, it was very popular. People from all over Eastern North Carolina came to visit it regularly during the time of segregation.
How the Park Looked Originally
A landscape architect named G. Robert Derick designed Chavis Park. He wanted the park to look natural. He used materials like stone and rough logs. These materials helped the park blend in with the trees. This design style was called "parkitechture".
The park had an outdoor stage and two bridges made of stone. It also featured a historic carousel, a swimming pool, and picnic areas. Later, fields for track and baseball were added.
Changes After Segregation
After Raleigh ended segregation, Chavis Park had some updates:
- In 1972, the large swimming pool was made smaller. A new community center was also built.
- In 2013, the carousel was moved. It now has its own special building that protects it from the weather. The old carousel building is still there in the park's center.
Even though the city has made improvements, some people feel the park deserves even more updates. They see it as a very important symbol of African American history in Raleigh.
Fun Things to Do
The most popular attraction at Chavis Park is its old carousel.
The Chavis Park Carousel
The Chavis Park Carousel is very special. It was made around 1913. The park bought it in 1937 for $4,000. It has a special music machine called a Wurlitzer band organ. The carousel also has beautiful oil paintings of nature scenes. There are 36 hand-carved and hand-painted horses that "jump" up and down.
This carousel is one of fewer than 300 like it still existing today! You can find it as stop number sixteen on Raleigh's Historic Capital City Trail.
Park Facilities
Chavis Park has many places for people to use. Some can even be rented for events.
- There is a playground for kids.
- You can play tennis on the courts.
- There's a swimming pool.
- The park has a community center.
- You can use picnic shelters.
- There's a gymnasium for sports.
- An outdoor track is lit for evening use.
- You can work out in the fitness center.
- There's a game room for fun.
A part of Raleigh's Capital Area Greenway, called Little Rock Trail, also runs through the park.
Why It's a Historic Place
John Chavis Memorial Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for a few reasons.
- It's important for its role in entertainment and recreation.
- It's also important for its connection to Black history and social history.
- The park's design and landscape architecture are also considered very significant.
The National Park Service says the park was most important between 1937 and 1965.
Images for kids
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Photo of John Chavis Memorial Park
