Market Street Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Market Street Park |
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The Robert E. Lee statue in front of the First United Methodist Church in 2008
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| Location | Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. |
Market Street Park is a public park located in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was once known as Lee Park until 2017. For a short time, from June 2017 to July 2018, it was called Emancipation Park.
Park History
The story of Market Street Park began in 1917. A man named Paul Goodloe McIntire bought the land. He wanted to create a special place for a bronze statue. This statue would show Robert E. Lee, a famous general, riding his horse named Traveller.
McIntire gave both the park and the statue to the city of Charlottesville. Even though the statue was planned in 1917, it wasn't finished until 1924. It was finally placed in the park on May 3, 1924.
Statue Controversy
In February 2017, the City Council of Charlottesville voted to remove the Robert E. Lee statue from the park. However, some people disagreed with this decision. A lawsuit was started in March 2017 to stop the removal. Because of this lawsuit, the statue is still in the park today.
Park Name Changes
On June 5, 2017, the City Council decided to change the park's name. They voted to rename it Emancipation Park. This decision was made by Mayor Michael Signer and the council members.
The idea of renaming the park and taking down the Robert Edward Lee sculpture caused a lot of discussion. It became a central point of disagreement between those who wanted the statue gone and those who wanted it to stay. This debate was a reason for the 2017 Unite the Right rally.
In July 2018, the park's name was changed again. It became known as Market Street Park, which is its name today.
Park Location
Market Street Park is easy to find in Charlottesville. It is surrounded by several streets. Jefferson Street is to the north of the park. Market Street is to the south. First Street N.E. is on the west side, and Second Street N.E. is on the east side.
